Wednesday March 22, 9:20 AMBreaking News
(This is London - Evening Standard)
Lawrence murder: two arrested
By Justin Davenport, Crime Correspondent
Two men are being questioned today in connection with the murder of Stephen
Lawrence after a breakthrough in the seven-year inquiry. Detectives are
expected to make further arrests in the next few days.
The men, both in their twenties, are being held at a police station in south
London after secret and meticulously-planned operations in Scotland and
south London. It is understood that neither of those arrested are members of
the original gang of five suspects who have been named in connection with
the murder of the black teenager.
The arrests last night came as Stephen's parents and Deputy Assistant
Commissioner John Grieve, who is leading the third investigation into the
killing, made a fresh witness appeal on the BBC's Crimewatch UK.
In a statement Scotland Yard said: "Two men were arrested in connection with
the murder. They are currently in custody in a south London police station.
They were not arrested as a result of the Crimewatch appeal."
Police refused to elaborate on the identities of the suspects.
Stephen, an 18-year-old A-level student, was stabbed to death in an
unprovoked attack by white youths at an Eltham bus stop in April 1993. Three
of the five original suspects were formally acquitted of the murder when a
private prosecution brought by the Lawrences collapsed at the Old Bailey.
However, during last night's programme Mr Grieve emphasised that he believed
three people could still be prosecuted for murder. Later he said the
television appeal had generated calls relating to people the police are
"very, very interested in".
It also emerged that DNA tests are now being carried out on a 2ft knife
which police believe they have identified as the murder weapon.
A coat found near the scene is also being subjected to tests which can
pinpoint DNA samples from tiny pieces of material such as dandruff.
Mr Grieve, the head of the Yard's Racial and Violent Crimes Task Force,
said: "We have got new witnesses. We have got new ways of analysing the
massive amount of witness statements we have already collected. There are
new developments in scientific evidence which are nothing short of
miraculous in finding conclusive evidence."
The new developments came after one of the biggest and most intensive
inquiries ever mounted by Scotland Yard, involving a team of 90 detectives
operating from a secret location in south London.
Detectives have deployed techniques normally associated with the
intelligence services in the fight against terrorism and carried out
highly-sophisticated surveillance operations on a number of suspects over a
nine-month period.
A number of new witnesses have contacted police and last night there was a
suggestion that a girlfriend of one of the youths involved had heard his
confession to the murder.
There was also speculation last night that one of those who took part in the
attack may have been a woman.
Stephen's parents, Neville and Doreen Lawrence, told the BBC programme: "As
long as the killers are out there, then the pressure is going to be on."
Mrs Lawrence urged the mothers and girlfriends of any of the youths involved
to come forward. "The boys would have fully confessed to them," she said.
She added: "There is one particular girl who I understand had heard from one
of them about the death of Stephen and I would like to appeal to her and
other mothers and young women, wives, girlfriends - anybody who would know
anything to come forward and phone in."
Mr Lawrence said: "It is known that the youths who killed Stephen had a
history of criminal activity and anyone with information about their crimes,
past and present, should come forward because it may help solve Stephen's
murder." Anyone with information should call 0800 169 6819.
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