‘Police put the wrong man in prison’
Lawrence killer’s father moans as case shelved
THE father of one of Stephen Lawrence’s killers has slammed police for shelving their probe into the racist murder.
Stephen Dobson’s son Gary was among five youths suspected of stabbing the 18-year-old to death in an unprovoked attack 27 years ago.
But only he and David Norris were convicted of murder in 2012 following a DNA breakthrough.
They were jailed for life, with Dobson given a minimum of 15 years.
The thug’s dad has now spoken out after Scotland Yard revealed they were ending the active hunt for Stephen’s remaining attackers.
Asked if the investigation should continue, Mr Dobson, 64, said: “Oh definitely.” He insisted they should keep hunting “because they’ve got the wrong person in prison.” When asked if police should still be looking at the other former suspects –brothers Neil and Jamie Acourt or Luke Knight – he added: “I don’t know anything about anyone else, all I know about is my son.” Both of the Acourt brothers have served time in prison over a cannabis plot.
Neil was released after serving less than half of a six-year sentence last year, while Jamie is still in prison for his role after he was caught in Spain in 2018. Knight has no convictions.
Mr Dobson still lives just a few streets from the scene of Stephen’s murder. The aspiring architect was killed in Eltham, South East London, in 1993. Mr Dobson said he had not yet spoken to Gary, now 44, who is thought to be in Gartree Prison, Leics, about the latest developments. Stephen’s dad Neville revealed he will fight Scotland Yard’s decision to stop investigating the crime.
He said: “I’m not angry, I’m disappointed. Yet again the Met police have failed my family. I’m going to talk to my solicitor and barrister and find out if we can do anything more. I’m not going to stop.” Neville and Stephen’s mum Doreen, a Labour peer, were told of the decision in a meeting with Met Police Commissioner Dame Cressida Dick this week.