Legal Systems and Evidence Collection
Cold Case Review- crime that has not been solved and is not the crime of recent subject, but still investigated in hope of new information popping up.
The case became a “cause celebre”, an issue or incident that created widespread controversy.
Also became one of the highest profile racial killings in the United Kingdom’s history.
Initially five suspects were arrested, but not convicted. The five suspects refused to answer any questions, claiming privilege against self-incrimination. The five suspects were; Neil and Jamie Acourt, Norris, Knight, and Dobson.
In 1998 a public inquiry was held by Sir William Macpherson that reviewed the original Metropolitan Police Service investigation and concluded that it was institutionally racist.
Also, the double jeopardy rule was abrogated or ignored, to allow retrial upon finding new evidence.
At the time forensic science was not as advanced as it was today, during the cold case review a lot of time passed and new scientific advances brought more evidence to the table.
-microscopic blood stain of Lawrence’s blood on Dobson’s jacket
-fibers and hairs from Lawrence on both the men's clothes
both Dobson and Norris were charged guilty at trial with a public jury and charged with lifetime in prison..
However, Mr. Justice Treacy said that at the time of the murder both of them were juveniles, which took place before the Criminal Justice Act of 2003, which amends the law relating to police powers, bail, disclosure, allocation of criminal offences, prosecution appeals, "double jeopardy", propensity evidence, bad character evidence, sentencing and release on licence. As a result, the minimum serving time was 12 years.
The case became a “cause celebre”, an issue or incident that created widespread controversy.
Also became one of the highest profile racial killings in the United Kingdom’s history.
Initially five suspects were arrested, but not convicted. The five suspects refused to answer any questions, claiming privilege against self-incrimination. The five suspects were; Neil and Jamie Acourt, Norris, Knight, and Dobson.
In 1998 a public inquiry was held by Sir William Macpherson that reviewed the original Metropolitan Police Service investigation and concluded that it was institutionally racist.
Also, the double jeopardy rule was abrogated or ignored, to allow retrial upon finding new evidence.
At the time forensic science was not as advanced as it was today, during the cold case review a lot of time passed and new scientific advances brought more evidence to the table.
-microscopic blood stain of Lawrence’s blood on Dobson’s jacket
-fibers and hairs from Lawrence on both the men's clothes
both Dobson and Norris were charged guilty at trial with a public jury and charged with lifetime in prison..
However, Mr. Justice Treacy said that at the time of the murder both of them were juveniles, which took place before the Criminal Justice Act of 2003, which amends the law relating to police powers, bail, disclosure, allocation of criminal offences, prosecution appeals, "double jeopardy", propensity evidence, bad character evidence, sentencing and release on licence. As a result, the minimum serving time was 12 years.
Page done by: Kevin