STEPHEN STEPHEN’S STORY

THE PERSON A TIMELINE OF KEY EVENTS AND CHANGES THAT HAVE BEEN BROUGHT ABOUT IN STEPHEN’S NAME HIS LIFE AND LEGACY – LIVE OUR BEST LIFE

Stephen Lawrence Day (on or around 22 April) is an opportunity to use Stephen’s life and legacy to enable and support EARLY YEARS AND PRIMARY pupils to live their best life by valuing and respecting their own lives and the lives Loved by family and friends; enjoyed of others. school and many other activities • 13 September, 1974 – Stephen Lawrence At the heart of Stephen’s legacy is a focus was born on building pupils’ confidence and skills • Loved by his family – Mum (Doreen), relating to emotional intelligence, resilience, Dad (Neville), brother (Stuart) and respect and care. Stephen’s Day should sister (Georgina) support children and young people to • Attended nursery and school in South London value difference, embrace diversity, behave responsibly and make positive choices • Loved school – maths, art, PE and playing LOWER SECONDARY to contribute as active, healthy, engaged with his friends were his favourites citizens in multicultural Britain. Enjoyed school, worked hard, • He was kind and generous to his brother interested in music and building and sister and others on his art interests

• Attended Blackheath Bluecoats Secondary School in London

• Loved his friends and was generous with other pupils, particularly those UPPER SECONDARY who may have been excluded or marginalised by others Worked hard, dreamed of studying • He enjoyed being entrepreneurial architecture, mini-marathon runner around his interests; painting pictures and fund-raiser of friends and printing t-shirts • Kind and aspirational – enjoyed helping others by setting himself personal goals; signed up for the Mini-Marathon and raised money for Great Ormond Street Hospital

• Alongside his studies, music, running and drawing all featured as favourite pastimes as he transitioned to upper secondary

6 7 14 FEBRUARY 1997 THE TRAGIC MURDER Daily Mail front page. The Daily Mail newspaper uses its JULY 1998 JULY 2006 front page to name the five men it Police apology. The Lawrence BBC documentary. A BBC says killed Stephen Lawrence. It family call on the Met Police documentary investigating the 22 APRIL 1993 invites them to sue if it is wrong Commissioner Sir Paul Condon case raises fresh questions about Stephen Lawrence to resign. He apologises to the prime suspects, prompting murdered. FEBRUARY 1997 them when he appears in the to The 18-year-old is stabbed to Doreen Lawrence has initial October, admitting there review their evidence. In October death in an unprovoked attack meeting with , had been failures 2007, the Independent Police by a gang of white youths as he DECEMBER 1994 Complaints Commission says it waits at a bus stop in Eltham, 29 JULY 1993 Police surveillance. Covert FEBRUARY 1999 has found no evidence of wrong- south-east London, with his Charges dropped. The video shot over several days in MARCH 1997 Macpherson report doing by an officer as alleged in friend Duwayne Brooks Crown Prosecution Service Dobson’s flat captures him and Police Complaints Authority published. It accuses part of the documentary drops the prosecution saying Norris using strong racist and investigation. The Kent the Metropolitan Police of 23 APRIL 1993 the ID evidence from Duwayne violent language. Neil Acourt Constabulary launches its probe institutional racism and makes 70 NOVEMBER 2007 Suspects identified. The day Brooks is unreliable and Luke Knight are also caught into police conduct, which recommendations, many aimed Forensics review. Police after the murder, a letter giving on camera using violent and nine months later highlights at improving police attitudes to confirm they are investigating the names of the suspects is 22 DECEMBER 1993 racist language “significant weaknesses, racism. It also includes some new forensic evidence in the case left in a telephone box. Police Inquest halted. The Southwark omissions and lost opportunities” proposals for changes in the law, after a police review, staffed by surveillance begins on their coroner, Sir Montague Levine, 18 – 25 APRIL 1996 but it says there is no evidence of including strengthening the Race 32 officers, was launched the homes four days later halts an inquest into Stephen’s Private prosecution fails. racist conduct Relations Act to try to clamp down previous summer. It examined death after the family’s barrister, The murder trial begins against on discrimination evidence gathered at the time, 4 MAY 1993 Michael Mansfield QC, says there Neil Acourt, Luke Knight and JULY 1997 looking at opportunities to use Family express frustrations. is “dramatic” new evidence Gary Dobson at the Old Bailey, Public inquiry announced. SEPTEMBER 2002 new technology to find leads Stephen’s family hold a press but the case collapses when Jack Straw says there will be a Norris jailed. David Norris conference to complain not APRIL 1994 Mr Justice Curtis rules that judicial inquiry into the killing and Neil Acourt are jailed for 18 FEBRUARY 2008 enough is being done to catch CPS refuses to prosecute. identification evidence from and subsequent investigation, months for a racist attack on an Memorial opens. Doreen the killers The CPS says there is insufficient Brooks is inadmissible. Acourt, to identify lessons for police in off-duty police officer in Eltham in Lawrence opens a £10m school evidence to bring charges based Knight and Dobson are found not dealing with racially motivated 2001. Norris, a passenger in a car resource centre in honour of her 6 MAY 1993 on the new evidence, which was guilty. Not guilty verdicts had to crimes. It will be chaired by Sir driven by Acourt, threw a drink son. Two weeks later vandals The Lawrence family believed to be the identification be entered at the direction of the William Macpherson, a retired and shouted racist abuse at the smash its windows in a suspected meet Nelson Mandela of further suspects judge after legal arguments High Court judge black officer racist attack

1993 1993 – 1994 1994 – 1997 1997 – 1998 1998 – 2005 2006 – 2009

7 MAY – 23 JUNE 1993 SEPTEMBER 1994 13 FEBRUARY 1997 MARCH 1998 MAY 2004 FEBRUARY 2009 Suspects arrested and Private prosecution launched. Inquest verdict. The inquest Inquiry opens. The five Trial ruled out. The CPS finally Report anniversary. Ten years two charged. Police arrest Stephen’s parents, Doreen and resumes and the five suspects suspects are told to give evidence announces there is insufficient on from the Macpherson inquiry, brothers Neil and Jamie Acourt, Neville Lawrence, launch a private refuse to answer questions. A or face prosecution. In June, they evidence to prosecute anyone a report from a member of its David Norris, Gary Dobson and prosecution against Gary Dobson, verdict of unlawful killing “in a appear and are pelted with bottles for Stephen’s murder following panel, Dr Richard Stone, says Luke Knight, and search their Luke Knight and Neil Acourt. All completely unprovoked racist by protesters as they leave, after a review the police have made significant homes. Neil Acourt and Luke three deny the charges. A private attack by five youths” is delivered being accused of being evasive progress in reforming but Knight are identified by Duwayne prosecution is the same as a by Sir Montague Levine APRIL 2005 charges of racism remain. Justice Brooks at ID parades as part of the standard criminal trial but not Double jeopardy scrapped. Secretary Jack Straw says the Met gang responsible brought by the CPS Government drops the legal is no longer institutionally racist, principle which prevents but Stephen’s mother says police suspects being tried twice still fail black Britons for the same crime subject to new evidence

8 9 JANUARY 2012 Guilty of murder. Dobson and Norris are both found guilty of murder at the end of a six-week trial into the death of Stephen MARCH 2014 Lawrence. During the trial, the A new public review. On a court hears that microscopic dramatic day of developments, a evidence found on clothing review into the original murder belonging to the accused links investigation – by the barrister them to the murder. The jury Mark Ellison – finds that an takes two-and-a-half days to reach undercover Met Police officer MARCH 2015 MARCH 2016 its decision. Both men receive life worked within the “Lawrence Public Inquiry into Officer ‘had case to answer’. sentences; Dobson is jailed for family camp” while an inquiry undercover policing. A public The police watchdog finds ex-Met JULY 2010 a minimum of 15 years and two into the handling of the murder inquiry chaired by Lord Pickford Police commander Richard Dobson jailed. Gary Dobson months, Norris for 14 years and was underway. It also finds into the abuse of undercover Walton would have had to starts a five-year jail term for three months there are reasonable grounds techniques by police officers is answer a case for misconduct supplying a class B drug after to suspect at least one detective launched. While its scope is wide after meeting an undercover being caught during a sting by JUNE 2013 on the team was corrupt. This – it includes, for example, the use police officer during the Stephen the Serious Organised Crime Former police officer ‘spied’ leads Home Secretary Theresa of dead children’s names in fake Lawrence inquiry. Mr Walton Agency (SOCA) on Lawrence family. The May to announce a new public identities – one of its main focus met the officer in 1998, allegedly prime minister calls for an inquiry into undercover policing. points is the infiltration of the obtaining information about APRIL 2018 MAY 2011 immediate investigation into A separate report into Operation Lawrence campaign for justice. the Lawrence family and their Investigation ‘unlikely to Two to face trial. Gary Dobson reports the police wanted to Herne – an investigation Over the next three years the supporters. The watchdog said he progress’. Doreen Lawrence and David Norris are to face smear Stephen Lawrence’s launched by the Met into the inquiry suffers setbacks due to would have faced a disciplinary tells the Daily Mail she believes trial over the murder of Stephen family. claims allegations made by former a burgeoning list of participants hearing but had retired. detectives have run out of lines of Lawrence following a review of former officer Peter Francis undercover officer Peter Francis and issues around revealing the Lawyers for Neville Lawrence inquiry and calls on them to “be new and compelling forensic went undercover to infiltrate the – finds no evidence to back identities of former undercover unsuccessfully urged the force honest” about the likelihood that evidence. The Court of Appeal family’s campaign for justice in claims he was tasked to smear police officers. In March 2018, to halt Mr Walton’s retirement anyone else will be convicted over decides there is enough new and 1993. Mr Francis tells the paper the Lawrence family but it does campaigners stage a walk-out earlier that year. Mr Walton Stephen’s murder substantial evidence to allow and Channel 4’s Dispatches find failings regarding allegations during proceedings and call for said the Met had rejected the Dobson’s acquittal to be quashed. programme he was looking for about undercover officers the inquiry’s current chair, Sir watchdog’s findings and “did The documentary, Stephen: The pair had been charged the “disinformation” to use against indulging in inappropriate John Mitting, to step down not plan to bring misconduct The Murder That Changed previous September those criticising the police sexual relationships from his post proceedings” A Nation, airs on the BBC

2010 – 2011 2012 – 2013 2014 2015 2016 – 2018 2018

NOVEMBER 2011 OCTOBER 2015 SEPTEMBER 2016 APRIL 2018 Trial begins. The trial of Police corruption Handbag strap mystery. National Day announced Dobson and Norris begins at investigation. The National Scotland Yard announces it has to commemorate Stephen the Old Bailey. The jury hears Crime Agency (NCA) confirms received “significant information” Lawrence’s life. A statement is that Stephen’s DNA was found it has been investigating alleged after a BBC Crimewatch made by Prime Minister, Theresa on the defendants’ clothes police corruption during the reconstruction. Detectives May as she attends memorial 1993 murder inquiry for months. attempt to identify a woman service marking 25th anniversary The new investigation is whose DNA was on a handbag of murder prompted by the findings of strap found close to the the 2014 Ellison review. Any murder scene and a separate Stephen Lawrence Day will findings are to be reported back possible witness be celebrated each year on to the police watchdog and 22 April could result in criminal or misconduct proceedings

10 11