Stephen Lawrence’s father ‘could accept’ killer David Norris’ release ‘if he says sorry’ as parole hearing granted

The father of Stephen Lawrence said last night he will accept the release of one of his son’s killers at an upcoming parole hearing if he apologises.

David Norris, 48, could be freed in months after he was granted an oral Parole Board hearing which could happen as early as May, the Mail can reveal.

Neville Lawrence said that while he was not happy about the possibility, he was willing to accept it if Norris apologises and ‘shows he is a changed man’.

Norris, who was finally jailed for a minimum of 14 years in September 2012, could begin rebuilding his life in the summer if the panel agree he is fit for release. He is eligible for release in 2025 because of time spend on remand before his guilty conviction. 

Speaking from his home in Jamaica, Mr Lawrence, 82, said: ‘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 he’s changed then I will accept that.

‘It’s not that I’m okay with it but if someone shows they know they did something wrong and have changed, then I can accept that.’ Mr Lawrence was baptised again as a Seventh-day Adventist in 2017 by a pastor who encouraged him to forgive those who had wronged him.

He has given a statement to the Parole Board but said he is yet to decide if he will attend the hearing. The board is yet to declare if the hearing will be public but relatives can attend.

David Norris, 48, could be freed in months after he was granted an oral Parole Board hearing which could happen as early as May, the Mail can reveal

Five men were initially arrested over the racist murder of Stephen, 18, (above) who was fatally stabbed in Eltham, south east London

Events during Norris’s time in prison will likely count against him. He was caught illegally using a smartphone in 2022, which he used to take a sickening selfie from his cell on Dartmoor’s E-wing, which houses supposedly well-behaved inmates.

The phone was recovered from his body after he was X-rayed and a police investigation into how he obtained it was launched.

Brandon Lewis, justice secretary at the time, said he was ‘furious’ and that the killer would face ‘consequences’ for the offence.

Norris was put into solitary confinement and it seemed his hope of parole was shattered. But confirmation his case will be heard by the Parole Board represents a realistic prospect of release.

Five men were initially arrested over the racist murder of Stephen, 18, who was fatally stabbed in Eltham, south east London. Two of his killers – Norris and Gary Dobson, now 49 – were brought to justice after a belated forensic breakthrough. Both were given life sentences in 2012 after being found guilty of murder.

A spokesman for the Parole Board confirmed that, after a review in November, it had been decided that Norris’s case would be discussed at an oral hearing, with a date yet to be set.

In 2017 Norris, whose father Clifford was a notorious gangland figure in the 1990s and who was linked to alleged police corruption in the Lawrence case, failed in a bid to clear his name after an exhaustive review of the case.