A convicted racist killer, David Norris, serving a life sentence for the murder of Stephen Lawrence, has been reported to have continued using derogatory language during his incarceration. The parole hearing, lasting three days, includes inquiries by a panel comprising prominent psychiatrists and prison experts.
Judge Mensah, a member of the panel, revealed that Norris had used racial slurs as recently as three years ago. Despite completing anti-racism courses, Norris was noted to have verbally abused a nurse, indicating lingering racist tendencies. However, his prison officer reported a recent positive trend, stating that Norris hadn’t displayed such behavior in the past few years.
During the hearing, Norris admitted to being present at the scene of the murder for the first time this year but denied wielding the murder weapon. His change in stance after 32 years was attributed to watching a documentary by the victim’s father, Neville Lawrence, who spoke about forgiveness, which deeply impacted Norris.
Victoria Ailes, representing the Secretary of State for Justice opposing Norris’s release, raised concerns about his influence on a young inmate. Allegations of association with a racist gang and grooming vulnerable prisoners were also addressed during the hearing.
Norris expressed remorse for his role in Stephen’s murder, acknowledging his past racist behavior and violent tendencies as a misguided teenager. He admitted to punching the victim during the fatal attack as part of a group mentality, emphasizing his regret and seeking forgiveness from the Black community.
The parole board hearing, observed by Stephen’s parents, aims to determine Norris’s fate, whether to release him, transfer to open conditions, or maintain his current imprisonment status. Norris’s recent admissions and expressions of remorse are being evaluated in the context of his past actions and impact on the Lawrence family, as the hearing progresses.