Stephen Lawrence killer is 'unreliable narrator of his own life', parole board told

One of the killers of Stephen Lawrence is an "unreliable narrator of his own life", his parole hearing has heard.

David Norris, 49, was convicted of Stephen's racist murder at the Old Bailey in 2011 and jailed for life with a minimum term of 14 years and three months in January 2012.

His minimum sentence expired in December, and this is the first time that he has been considered for release. On Tuesday, Norris was repeatedly asked who he was with on the night of Stephen's murder in 1993, but refused to name the other killers, saying he feared for his family's safety.

He also denied allegations of using racist and abusive language in the last few years. Norris was said to have said "n*****" in October 2022, and referred to a prison nurse as a "horrible c***" the same year. Giving evidence to the hearing on Wednesday, a jail psychologist said he was: "Not the most reliable narrator of his own life for whatever reason."

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The witness added: "Hearing the evidence it was quite confusing, as to sometimes admitting something, sometimes going back on that, being confused around dates."

He went on: "I think sometimes he has good memory, good detail for certain things, other times less so... He's obviously very careful about what he wants to admit to."

The psychologist said he spent around nine hours with Norris spread over five meetings to assess him. The parole hearing is taking place in a prison, and is being video streamed to a room in the Royal Courts of Justice where members of the public and media are able to observe proceedings.

Stephen's mother Baroness Doreen Lawrence is among those observing the hearing. Norris, wearing a grey long-sleeved top and using a hearing loop, is visible only from behind.

He has been in his current prison for around two years, and works in the servery, where food is prepared and distributed, the hearing was told.

A prison key worker said he had come to the unit wanting to work on "reactions and perceptions of rudeness towards him". The prison psychologist said Norris has a lack of racial awareness, and is more likely to use racist language during times of mental ill health or frustration.

On Tuesday the hearing was told that he had been involved in clashes with Muslim prisoners, including claims that he had thrown excrement and used derogatory terms, which he denies.

While he has since made progress and mixes with other prisoners from varied backgrounds, the psychologist said he would not recommend release. Norris should instead be moved to a lower security prison, category C, he said.

Stephen was stabbed in the heart while standing at a bus stop on April 22, 1993, with pal Duwayne Brooks, now 50. Brothers Neil and Jamie Acourt were accused of being in the gang that killed Stephen and have served time for drug dealing. Another, Luke Knight, remained free. All deny involvement.

Her Honour Judge Mensah, said that Norris had, this year, accepted he was at the scene of the murder for the first time but still denied wielding a knife. She asked Norris' prison offender manager why he had changed his position after 32 years.

She said: "When I've spoken to Mr Norris about it [he said it] was when he watched a documentary by the victim's father. He said that was quite a pivotal moment for him. I think that when Mr Lawrence spoke about giving some form of forgiveness, that particularly struck with him."

Victoria Ailes, for the Secretary of State for Justice who is opposing release, said there was evidence Norris had been attempting to "radicalise" a young prisoner.

Panel Chair, Cassie Williams, asked his prison offender manager about allegations that Norris had been associating with a racist gang in prison and grooming a "young vulnerable prisoner into that group".

The official, who said she only took up the case three weeks ago and had met Norris just three times, said: "He denies that claim and says he has no association with any kind of racist group."

Stephen's father Neville this year revealed he would accept Norris' release if he finally admits to the crime and says sorry for the devastation he caused the Lawrence family.

He said in January: "He would have to say he was sorry for killing Stephen and that he had changed his ways and apologise to our family [for me to accept his release]. I am not satisfied with him getting parole but what I am saying is if he can show remorse and show that he's changed then I will accept that."

On Tuesday, Norris read a statement saying he was expressing "genuine remorse" for his part in Stephen's murder. Wearing a black T-shirt, he said he was: "Deeply sorry for the murder and with this comes guilt that has been a very heavy burden on my shoulders. I will go to my grave with that guilt." He said he wanted to "sincerely apologise to the Black community".

Norris said: "That murder 32 years ago should never have happened. I am totally disgusted with myself and my part in his murder especially as he was completely innocent of any wrongdoing to the best of my knowledge. I am also very sorry for his friend. They were only trying to make their way home."

Norris said there were many reasons for his behaviour. "I was a 16-year-old horrible, violent racist young man who had come so far off the rails."

Norris said he grew up in the heart of south London where he had to fight off bullies. He said: "We were just kids who didn't see colour." Norris said he would visit friends where he would eat curry goat.

Norris refused to talk about the rest of the gang. He said: "I'm not here to discuss other people, I'm here to take responsibility for my part. In an ideal world, I would like to sit here and give the family the full details but that puts my family at risk."

He claimed he punched Stephen "two or three times" at the end of the gang attack, admitting the teenager had already been stabbed at that point and was crouching on the ground. Asked why he did it, Norris said: "I suppose it was a gang mentality. It was the loyalty to the group, if you started on one you started on all."

And questioned about why it happened, he said: "Looking back at it now I'm not entirely sure why it happened. I believe some kind of altercation or altercation or staring or words used. I just remember the victim's friend running off. It was such a quick incident that I'm not sure I knew what was going on."

Norris said he memory of the murder was "quite vivid" but there were some things he could not remember.

The hearing panel will decide in the coming weeks if Norris should be freed, be moved to open conditions or remain in a closed prison