The father of murdered teenager Stephen Lawrence has said the decision to keep one of his son's killers behind bars is the correct one, branding the inmate's bid for freedom as "cynical".
Parole Board Rejects Bid Over 'Significant Concerns'
David Norris, 49, was this week refused parole after the Parole Board concluded he may still pose a danger to the public. Norris was jailed in 2012 for the racist murder of 18-year-old Stephen Lawrence in Eltham, southeast London, in 1993.
The board's decision, published in a redacted form, stated that Norris had "consistently minimised or denied his attitudes and behaviour" during an evidence hearing in October. This lack of honesty, the panel found, gave "rise to significant concerns about the future management of risk".
'If He Was Truly Reformed, He Would Name Others'
Speaking exclusively, Stephen's father, Neville Lawrence, welcomed the ruling. He said Norris had attempted to portray himself as a changed man during the proceedings. "But if he was truly reformed and sorry he would have named the other individuals who were involved," Mr Lawrence stated, "something he refused to do."
Norris spoke for the first time about his role in the knife attack at the public hearing, having previously denied being at the scene. Stephen was killed by a gang of five or six youths, but Norris declined to identify the others, claiming he feared for his family's safety.
"I believe his admission was made for cynical reasons, in an effort to try to get out of prison, and not from genuine remorse," Mr Lawrence said. "Therefore, I do not believe he has learnt anything from his actions or the time he has had to think about it in prison."
A History of Racist Behaviour Behind Bars
The Parole Board report detailed a pattern of concerning behaviour that cast doubt on Norris's claimed reform. It noted "questions over both the extent and the sincerity" of any change, despite recent compliance with prison rules.
Specific incidents highlighted included:
- Becoming involved in disputes with Muslim prisoners, during which he threw excrement and used the slur "muzzies".
- In 2013, reportedly telling his daughter he did not want black grandchildren.
- In 2022, calling a female prison officer the N-word.
Mr Lawrence responded to this last point, saying, "We have now learned that only three years ago, a prison officer said he abused her over the colour of her skin, using the same word that was shouted at Stephen by his killers."
Stephen's mother, Baroness Doreen Lawrence, who watched Norris give evidence, was equally damning. "He was anything but remorseful and remains a dangerous racist who should never be let out of prison," she said.
The panel also suggested there was a serious possibility Norris was behind other knife attacks prior to the murder of Stephen Lawrence. Norris was originally given a minimum term of 14 years and three months. His time in prison has been marred by further incidents, including being caught with two mobile phones and a screwdriver in 2022, which led to his move to a category B jail.
The Lawrence family's long fight for justice was repeatedly hampered by a bungled Metropolitan Police investigation and the revelation that the force spied on their campaign. To date, only two of the gang—Norris and Gary Dobson—have been convicted for the murder.
