Police probe 'failed miserably' - The Press Association

(UKPA) – 1 hour ago 

Doreen Lawrence has attacked the original police investigation into her son's murder, saying that detectives "failed miserably" to find his killers back in 1993.

She thanked jurors for finding Gary Dobson and David Norris guilty but said it was not a cause for celebration.

Speaking outside the Old Bailey, Mrs Lawrence said: "Had the police done their job properly, I would have spent the last 18 years grieving for my son rather than fighting to get his killers to court."

Mrs Lawrence said her relief at the verdicts was mixed with anger that she and her family were put through nearly two decades of "grief and uncertainty" not knowing if or when they would get justice.

"These verdicts will not bring my son back. How can I celebrate when I know that this day could have come 18 years ago if the police who were meant to find my son's killers (had not) failed so miserably to do so?" she said.

Stephen's father Neville said he was conscious there were five or six attackers that night and that he didn't think he would "be able to rest until they are brought to justice".

"I have not been able to rest all this time," Mr Lawrence said in a statement read outside court by his solicitor, Jocelyn Cockburn. "I am therefore full of joy and relief that today, finally, two of my son's killers have been convicted of his murder. They will be sent to prison and face the consequence of their actions."

They spoke after one of the most senior officers in the Metropolitan Police said it was "a matter of huge regret" that it had taken nearly two decades to bring anyone to justice for the racist killing.

Acting deputy commissioner Cressida Dick said: "It's a matter of huge regret to the Met that it has taken 18 years to get to this point."

She went on: "This case, which as you know has taken 18 years to get to this stage, is a unique case, not just for the Met but I think in modern policing. Firstly because of the horrible, horrible nature of the racist attack, secondly because it's taken so long to come to court in this way and thirdly because of the public inquiry and the very wide-ranging recommendations that came out of that which have transformed policing."

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