The Parole Board has refused to release David Norris, one of the men convicted of the racist murder of teenager Stephen Lawrence in 1993. The decision follows a hearing where the panel concluded his expressions of remorse were unreliable and that he posed a continued risk to the public.
Racist Conduct Behind Bars Undermines Parole Bid
David Norris, now 49, was jailed for life in January 2012 with a minimum term of 14 years and three months, a tariff which expired in December 2024. However, his application for release has been rejected after the panel considered a catalogue of deeply concerning behaviour during his imprisonment.
This included a series of racist incidents where Norris threw excrement at Muslim prisoners, whom he referred to with a derogatory slur, and used the N-word as recently as 2022. He also reportedly told his daughter he did not want black grandchildren. Beyond his racist conduct, Norris was abusive to prison staff, acquired a tattoo, was found with illicit mobile phones and a screwdriver in his cell, and failed drugs tests in 2023.
Unreliable Remorse and Unresolved Crimes
During a public parole hearing earlier this year, Norris admitted for the first time that he punched Stephen Lawrence "two or three times" after the teenager had been stabbed and fallen to his knees. Despite this admission, his own offender manager suggested Norris may have only taken responsibility to improve his chances of freedom.
The panel found his evidence to be unreliable, noting he would change his narrative when confronted with new facts. Crucially, he refused to name the others involved in the murder, telling the hearing that while in an "ideal world" he could tell the family the whole truth, he could not as it "would pose a risk to me and my family".
The Parole Board also highlighted a "serious possibility" that Norris had committed other knife attacks, including the attempted murder of Stacey Benefield in 1993, for which he was acquitted, and another slashing incident for which he was never charged.
Family's Anguish and Calls for Justice
Stephen Lawrence's mother, Baroness Doreen Lawrence, supported the decision to keep Norris in prison. She described him as "anything but remorseful" and "a dangerous racist who should never be let out". She expressed her enduring anguish at not knowing the full details of her son's death and called on the police to re-interview Norris to pressure him into naming the other killers.
"Justice for me and my family is still possible," Baroness Lawrence stated. "Despite this, the Met has made no effort to follow up on the admission he made. The deep and lasting impact of his murderous act continues even now."
Norris and Gary Dobson were both convicted in 2012 following a forensic breakthrough in the long-stalled case. The sentencing judge at the time said the murder had "scarred the conscience of the nation". As well as being denied release, Norris was also refused a move to open prison conditions.
