Case Timeline
On April 22, 1993, while waiting at a bus stop in Eltham, Stephen Lawrence is stabbed to death by a group of young, white individuals.
THE SUSPECTS
On April 23, 1993, a letter with the name of the suspects was left in a telephone box ("Stephen Lawrence Murder: A Timeline of How the Story Unfolded.")
May 7-June 23, 1993 -- Suspects are Arrested and Two Charged: David Norris, Luke Night, Neil and Jamie Acourt and Gary Dobson are all arrested. Only Neil Acourt and Luke Night are identified by Duwayne Brooks, Stephen's friend who witnessed the crime, and are arrested.
CHARGES DROPPED on July 29, 1993: Duwayne Brooks' IDs are determined to be unreliable.
Sir Montague Levine, the Southwark coroner, halts an inquest into Stephen's death on December 22, 1993. Michael Mansfield QC, the family's barrister, claims there is new "dramatic" evidence ("Stephen Lawrence Murder: A Timeline of How the Story Unfolded").
April 1994 -- The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) won't prosecute: The CPS says the new evidence is insufficient and therefore refuses to prosecute.
September 1994 -- A Private Prosecution Starts: A private prosecution, a standard criminal trial not brought forward by the CPS, against Neil Acourt, Luke Knight, and Gary Dobson is launched by Doreen and Neville Lawrence, Stephen's parents.
December 1994 -- Police Surveillance: Knight, Dobson, Neil Acourt, and Norris are all caught on camera using very violent and racist language.
April 18-25, 1996 -- Private Prosecution is Unsuccessful: The murder trial against Neil Acourt, Dobson, and Knight begins at the Old Bailey. Mr. Justice Curtis rules that Brooks IDs are inadmissible and the case collapses. All three men are acquitted.
February 13, 1997 -- The Inquest Verdict: The five suspects refuse to answer questions as the inquest is resumed. Sir Montague's verdict of "unlawful killing 'in a completely unprovoked racist attack by five youths'" is delivered ("Stephen Lawrence Murder: A Timeline of How the Story Unfolded").
February 14, 1997 -- Front Page of the Daily Mail: On the front page of the Daily Mail Newspaper the five men are named as Stephen Lawrence's killers.
July 1998 -- The Police Apologize: The Lawrence family wants the Met Police Commissioner Paul Condron to resign. In October he apologizes, admitting there had been failures.
September 6, 2002 -- Norris is Jailed: Norris and former suspect Neil Acourt are put in jail for 18 months for a racist attack on an off-duty policy officer.
May 5, 2004 -- A Trial is Ruled Out: The CPS announces that there is not enough evidence to prosecute anyone for the Stephen Lawrence Murder.
April 2005 -- Double Jeopardy is Dropped: The government gets rid of the legal rule preventing suspects from being tried twice for the same crime.
November 8, 2007 -- Forensic Evidence Review: The police confirm that there is new forensic evidence being investigated after a case review was launched the previous summer. Evidence gathered at the time of the crime is being examined using new technology.
February 7, 2008 -- Stephen Lawrence Memorial Opens: Doreen Lawrence opens an architecture center in honor of her son. Two weeks later, in a suspected racist attack, vandals smash its windows.
July 9, 2010 -- Dobson is Jailed: Dobson starts a 5-year jail term for supplying a class B drug.
May 18, 2011 -- Dobson and Norris Face Trial: Following a review of the forensic evidence, Dobson and Norris are to face trial over the murder of Stephen Lawrence.
Dobson and Norris's trial begins at Old Bailey on November 14, 2011.
January 3, 2012 -- They're Found Guilty: After a 6-week trial, Dobson and Norris are both found guilty of murder. Both Men receive life sentences ("Stephen Lawrence Murder: A Timeline of How the Story Unfolded").
Page done by: Kristen