Police release images of witness in Stephen Lawrence inquiry

Authorities wish to speak to man seen near scene 18-year-old’s murder in 1993 racist attack

Undated photograph of Stephen Lawrence. The London Metropolitan Police are appealing for information about a witness they believe could assist police with ongoing enquiries investigating the murder of Mr Lawrence in 1993. Photograph: London Metropolitan Police/EPA
Undated photograph of Stephen Lawrence. The London Metropolitan Police are appealing for information about a witness they believe could assist police with ongoing enquiries investigating the murder of Mr Lawrence in 1993. Photograph: London Metropolitan Police/EPA

Detectives investigating the murder of Stephen Lawrence have released new CCTV images of a witness they want to trace.

The pictures show a man wearing a “V” emblem jacket, which police have previously appealed for information about.

The Metropolitan Police said the individual has never been identified and officers are appealing to him, or anyone who knows him, to come forward and speak to them.

Still taken from CCTV dated 22/4/1993 of a witness the police believe could assist them with ongoing enquiries into the murder of Stephen Lawrence. Photograph: Metropolitan Police/PA
Still taken from CCTV dated 22/4/1993 of a witness the police believe could assist them with ongoing enquiries into the murder of Stephen Lawrence. Photograph: Metropolitan Police/PA

Mr Lawrence (18) was stabbed to death by a group of six white youths in an unprovoked racist attack as he waited at a bus stop in Eltham, southeast London, at 10.35pm on April 22nd, 1993.

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Scotland Yard said it is issuing new stills and images of a witness they believe could assist police with ongoing inquiries.

The force said the man was captured on CCTV in an off-licence on Well Hall Road in Eltham at 8pm. The off-licence was 330 yards from the bus stop where Mr Lawrence would be attacked later that night.

Witnesses have previously reported seeing a man in a distinctive green jacket with the “V” emblem in the vicinity of Well Hall Road roundabout at about the time Mr Lawrence was attacked, the Met said.

Detective Chief Inspector Chris Le Pere, said:“We are appealing for this man to come forward so that we can speak to him to establish if he can assist with our inquiries, or if we can eliminate this strand of the investigation.

“He was seen in the off-licence at 8pm and then again later that night not far from where Stephen was attacked.

“It is important that we speak with him.

“The image of the distinctive jumper was previously circulated to media in 1993 and again in 2013. The CCTV was recently identified as part of a regular internal review of the case.

“Officers digitally enhanced it to give us the clearest possible image, and having carried out inquiries to trace him, now release it again to make a public appeal.”

Mr Le Pere added: “The investigation remains open. Two individuals were found guilty of murder, but officers continue to follow lines of inquiry.

“We are hoping that over the passage of time allegiances may have changed, people may have moved away and feel more confident coming forward.”

In 2012, Gary Dobson and David Norris were jailed after they were convicted of the murder of Mr Lawrence.

PA