Neville Lawrence says he might accept his son’s killer’s release if he shows genuine remorse for his actions
Eltham: Neville Lawrence, Stephen’s dad, recently shared that he could accept the release of one of his son’s killers if that person truly shows remorse. It’s a tough situation, and he’s not exactly thrilled about the idea of parole for David Norris, one of the two men convicted in the case.
Neville mentioned that a parole hearing might happen this year for Norris, who’s been behind bars for quite a while now. He’s clear that he’s not okay with Norris getting out, but if Norris can prove he’s changed and genuinely apologizes, Neville might be able to accept it.
He said, “If he can show he’s sorry for what he did and that he’s turned his life around, then I could accept it.” It’s a heavy thing to say, considering the pain of losing a child in such a brutal way.
Stephen was murdered back in April 1993 by a group of racists while waiting for a bus with his friend. The whole investigation was a mess, plagued by issues like institutional racism and corruption within the police.
Only Gary Dobson and Norris were convicted, and now Norris, who’s 48, might have a hearing as soon as May. He’s served a minimum of 14 years and three months, and the Parole Board is looking into his case.
Neville has submitted a statement to the Parole Board but hasn’t decided if he’ll attend the hearing. It could take a whole day, and he’s weighing his options.
The Parole Board has confirmed that they’re reviewing Norris’s case, focusing on the risk he might pose to the public if released. They’ll look at a lot of evidence, including how he’s behaved in prison and the impact of his crime on the victims.
It’s a thorough process, and they’re serious about keeping the public safe. Before being caught, Norris had some serious protection from his father, who was involved in the drug trade. It’s a complicated story, and the jury didn’t even know about Norris’s past harassment conviction.
