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04/01/2012
Lawrence Murderers To Be Sentenced As Juveniles
The men convicted of the murder of teenager Stephen Lawrence 18 years ago are to be sentenced as juveniles after being convicted on Tuesday afternoon.
An Old Bailey jury found Gary Dobson and David Norris guilty during the high profile case that has led to a number of legal precedents.
The pair were convicted on the strength of DNA and forensic evidence after threads and minute blood stains were found on their clothing and linked to their teenage victim.
Both will be sentenced as juveniles as they were under 18 at the time of the attack, which happened in south-east London in April 1993.
Dobson, 36, and Norris, 35, are expected to receive reduced sentences compared to an adult convicted of the same crime, but are still facing minimum prison terms of around 12 years each.
Police said the investigation in Stephen Lawrence's killing at the hands of a racist gang could be reopened to include other known members of the gang if further evidence is found.
Meanwhile, responding to the convictions, Labour Leader Ed Miliband said he hoped the guilty verdict would help bring closure for the Lawrence family, who have campaigned relentlessly for a conviction over their son's murder since his death.
“The murder of Stephen Lawrence was not only a tragedy for a talented young man and his family, it was a wake up call to all of us who believe Britain is - and always must be - a country where everyone is shown respect irrespective of race, culture or faith," Mr Miliband said.
He added: “I am proud that 18 years on from Stephen’s murder, Britain is a much more tolerant and open country. We have new laws to prevent the stirring of racial hatred, while following the Macpherson Report, reforms were made to ensure that our public institutions are better representative and responsive to all the people.
“But we must never allow ourselves to become complacent about the threat of racism."
(DW)
An Old Bailey jury found Gary Dobson and David Norris guilty during the high profile case that has led to a number of legal precedents.
The pair were convicted on the strength of DNA and forensic evidence after threads and minute blood stains were found on their clothing and linked to their teenage victim.
Both will be sentenced as juveniles as they were under 18 at the time of the attack, which happened in south-east London in April 1993.
Dobson, 36, and Norris, 35, are expected to receive reduced sentences compared to an adult convicted of the same crime, but are still facing minimum prison terms of around 12 years each.
Police said the investigation in Stephen Lawrence's killing at the hands of a racist gang could be reopened to include other known members of the gang if further evidence is found.
Meanwhile, responding to the convictions, Labour Leader Ed Miliband said he hoped the guilty verdict would help bring closure for the Lawrence family, who have campaigned relentlessly for a conviction over their son's murder since his death.
“The murder of Stephen Lawrence was not only a tragedy for a talented young man and his family, it was a wake up call to all of us who believe Britain is - and always must be - a country where everyone is shown respect irrespective of race, culture or faith," Mr Miliband said.
He added: “I am proud that 18 years on from Stephen’s murder, Britain is a much more tolerant and open country. We have new laws to prevent the stirring of racial hatred, while following the Macpherson Report, reforms were made to ensure that our public institutions are better representative and responsive to all the people.
“But we must never allow ourselves to become complacent about the threat of racism."
(DW)
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23 August 2012
Lawrence Murderers Lose Appeal
The two men jailed for the murder of black teenager Stephen Lawrence have lost the first round of their attempt to challenge their convictions at the court of appeal. Gary Dobson and David Norris were given life sentences in January for the racist murder in south-east London in 1993.
Lawrence Murderers Lose Appeal
The two men jailed for the murder of black teenager Stephen Lawrence have lost the first round of their attempt to challenge their convictions at the court of appeal. Gary Dobson and David Norris were given life sentences in January for the racist murder in south-east London in 1993.
16 October 2013
Supreme Court Rejects Prisoners Voting Appeal
Court action brought by two prisoners calling for them to be allow to vote has been dismissed by the Supreme Court. Under British law prisoners are not entitled to vote. Convicted murderers Peter Chester and George McGeoch challenged that arguing European Union rules provided a provision for prisoners right to vote.
Supreme Court Rejects Prisoners Voting Appeal
Court action brought by two prisoners calling for them to be allow to vote has been dismissed by the Supreme Court. Under British law prisoners are not entitled to vote. Convicted murderers Peter Chester and George McGeoch challenged that arguing European Union rules provided a provision for prisoners right to vote.
01 March 2010
Drug Smuggler Sentenced To 18 Years
A man has pleaded guilty to his part in a £38.5m drug smuggling operation at a retrial. Robert Flook, 49, was sentenced to 18 years for his role in the crime. In February 2008 Flook was given 26 years imprisonment for conspiracy to supply 150 kilos of cocaine, and 13 years for conspiracy to supply eight tonnes of cannabis to run concurrently.
Drug Smuggler Sentenced To 18 Years
A man has pleaded guilty to his part in a £38.5m drug smuggling operation at a retrial. Robert Flook, 49, was sentenced to 18 years for his role in the crime. In February 2008 Flook was given 26 years imprisonment for conspiracy to supply 150 kilos of cocaine, and 13 years for conspiracy to supply eight tonnes of cannabis to run concurrently.
26 April 2010
Blue Lagoon Murderers For Sentencing
The family who kept a vulnerable man as their slave then killed him, cut up his body and dumped it in a Bedfordshire beauty spot are due to be sentenced. Michael Gilbert, 26, was tortured for his benefit money by the extended Watt family at their home in Luton.
Blue Lagoon Murderers For Sentencing
The family who kept a vulnerable man as their slave then killed him, cut up his body and dumped it in a Bedfordshire beauty spot are due to be sentenced. Michael Gilbert, 26, was tortured for his benefit money by the extended Watt family at their home in Luton.
26 April 2013
UK Rucksack Bomb Plotters Jailed
Three men have been jailed for their involvement in a terror cell that planned an attack similar to the 7 July bombings. Eight other members of the cell are to be sentenced later, the BBC has said. Irfan Naseer (31) was sentenced to life with a minimum of 18 years, Irfan Khalid (28) was given 18 years and Ashik Ali was sentenced to 15 years.
UK Rucksack Bomb Plotters Jailed
Three men have been jailed for their involvement in a terror cell that planned an attack similar to the 7 July bombings. Eight other members of the cell are to be sentenced later, the BBC has said. Irfan Naseer (31) was sentenced to life with a minimum of 18 years, Irfan Khalid (28) was given 18 years and Ashik Ali was sentenced to 15 years.
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