Stephen Lawrence’s Father Open to Killer’s Release with Remorse
Neville Lawrence says he might accept the release of his son’s killer if he shows genuine remorse for his actions
Stephen Lawrence, Neville Lawrence, David Norris, Eltham, London, Parole Board
Eltham: Neville Lawrence, Stephen’s dad, recently shared that he could accept the release of his son’s killer if that person shows real remorse. It’s a tough situation, but he believes in the possibility of change.
David Norris, one of the two men convicted for Stephen’s murder, might have a parole hearing this year. Neville isn’t thrilled about the idea of Norris getting out, but he’s open to it if Norris can prove he’s changed.
He mentioned that Norris would need to apologize for what he did and show he’s genuinely sorry. It’s not about being okay with the release; it’s about recognizing if someone has truly changed.
Stephen was tragically killed by a group of racists back in April 1993 while waiting for a bus with his friend. The investigation faced a lot of issues, including racism within the police force and other serious problems.
Norris, now 48, could have his hearing as soon as May. He’s served a minimum of 14 years and three months, and the Parole Board is reviewing his case. Neville has submitted a statement but hasn’t decided if he’ll attend the hearing.
The Parole Board is focused on assessing the risk Norris might pose to the public if released. They’ll look at a lot of evidence, including how he behaved in prison and the impact of his crime on the victims.
Before his conviction, Norris had some serious backing from his father, who was involved in crime. It’s a complicated history, and the jury didn’t even know about Norris’s past harassment conviction.