18 years following the death of Stephen Lawrence, Gary Dobson and David Norris, have been sentenced for his murder.
The trial has made British history. For 800 years in England and Wales, Double Jeopardy existed. A person could not be tried for the same crime twice. The law was overturned in 2005 and since, new evidence has been found to bring previously acquitted Gary Dobson back into the court room, to face a murder trial.
The trial highlighted the brutal racism and anger within the convicts and their enjoyment at harming others, especially, black people. They expressed their embarrassment and shame of their behaviour but surely this was only because the world was watching them. The didn’t convince the jury and I doubt they convinced the British public.
Whilst the Lawrences will never get their son back, I sincerely hope that they can begin to grieve their son.
Bunty
