Stephen Lawrence killers refused leave to appeal

Two men found guilty of the racist murder of Stephen Lawrence almost 20 years go in south-east London have lost the first round of their attempt to challenge their convictions.

Gary Dobson and David Norris were found guilty of being involved in the unprovoked attack on the 18-year-old as he waited at a bus stop with a friend in 1993.

The pair were sentenced in January, with Dobson ordered to serve a minimum of 15 years and two months and Norris 14 years and three months, after taking into account that the duo were juveniles at the time of the killing.

However, their subsequent applications for permission to appeal were rejected by a single judge who considered the papers from the case. The Court of Appeal judge refused to grant leave to appeal.

Developments in forensic technology, unavailable to police at the time of the original murder investigation, helped secure the convictions.

Following a forensic review of the case, significant new scientific evidence was identified on clothing seized from the suspects’ homes 18 years ago. Changes in the double jeopardy law also helped ensure a re-trial which enabled the appeal court to allow a new prosecution after acquittal “where fresh and viable evidence is presented”.