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Stephen Lawrence 20th anniversary memorial service held | Stephen Lawrence 20th anniversary memorial service held |
(35 minutes later) | |
A memorial service is being held to mark the 20th anniversary of the death of Stephen Lawrence. | |
The 18-year-old aspiring architect was murdered in a racist attack as he waited for a bus in Eltham, south east London, on 22 April 1993. | The 18-year-old aspiring architect was murdered in a racist attack as he waited for a bus in Eltham, south east London, on 22 April 1993. |
The memorial service is taking place at St Martin-in-the-Fields, near Trafalgar Square, in central London. | |
Earlier, London's police chief Bernard Hogan-Howe vowed to prosecute all of those involved in the killing. | Earlier, London's police chief Bernard Hogan-Howe vowed to prosecute all of those involved in the killing. |
Stephen Lawrence's mother, Doreen, was being joined at the event by relatives, friends and senior political figures. | |
A number of supporters of The Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust, which she set up to help young people from disadvantaged backgrounds, are also attending. | |
'Quite low' | 'Quite low' |
Attendees of the service were expected to include singer Beverley Knight, who wrote a song to mark the 10th anniversary of Stephen's death. | |
The theme of the service is "building for the future". | |
Ahead of the service, Mrs Lawrence said she was uncertain how she would feel. | Ahead of the service, Mrs Lawrence said she was uncertain how she would feel. |
"On the day you can't plan how you're feeling, it's just something that happens," she said. | "On the day you can't plan how you're feeling, it's just something that happens," she said. |
"My low point has already started so presumably I will feel quite low." | "My low point has already started so presumably I will feel quite low." |
Stephen's father Neville has chosen to remember his son privately in Jamaica, taking flowers to his grave and saying a prayer with a friend who is a pastor. | Stephen's father Neville has chosen to remember his son privately in Jamaica, taking flowers to his grave and saying a prayer with a friend who is a pastor. |
Earlier, London's police commissioner vowed the Metropolitan Police would catch all of those involved in Stephen Lawrence's murder. | Earlier, London's police commissioner vowed the Metropolitan Police would catch all of those involved in Stephen Lawrence's murder. |
Two men, Gary Dobson, 37, and David Norris, 36, were jailed for life after last year being found guilty of the attack. | Two men, Gary Dobson, 37, and David Norris, 36, were jailed for life after last year being found guilty of the attack. |
Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe, who is expected to attend the service, said it had taken "too long" to convict the pair. | Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe, who is expected to attend the service, said it had taken "too long" to convict the pair. |
"After taking too long, we did get convictions in two cases last year, and what we're going to do is catch the other people involved," Sir Bernard said. | "After taking too long, we did get convictions in two cases last year, and what we're going to do is catch the other people involved," Sir Bernard said. |
The investigation was initially mired in allegations of police incompetence and institutional racism. | The investigation was initially mired in allegations of police incompetence and institutional racism. |
Sir Bernard said the police had "improved greatly" in the years since the murder, and that there were now around 3,000 black and ethnic minority officers in the Met. | Sir Bernard said the police had "improved greatly" in the years since the murder, and that there were now around 3,000 black and ethnic minority officers in the Met. |