Stephen Lawrence Murder Jury Considers Verdict

The jury in the Stephen Lawrence murder trial at the Old Bailey has begun deliberations.

Gary Dobson, 36, and David Norris, 35, both of south London, stand accused of murdering black teenager Lawrence in a 1993 racist attack.

They deny the charges.

Lawrence, 18, was stabbed to death near a bus stop in Eltham while being attacked by a group of white youths.

When summing up the case, Mr Justice Treacy, who is presiding over the trial, warned jurors not to let emotions or sympathy for the Lawrence family affect their verdict.

During the six-week trial, the court has heard witnesses describe how Lawrence was "swallowed" by a group of white youths, one of whom said "What? What nigger?" moments before the attack.

Dobson and Norris were arrested and charged with Lawrence's murder in May, after new forensic evidence became available.

Both had been acquitted of Lawrence's murder in a private prosecution brought by the Lawrence family in 1996, but a change to the double jeopardy law means they have faced a second trial.

The defence argues that the new evidence - minute traces of Lawrence's blood on their clothing seized by police in 1993 - is from cross-contamination due to police incompetence in the original investigation.

The courtroom also saw secret video footage taken by police in 1993, showing Dobson and Norris using violent, racist language.

Along with the 1996 trial, there have been two inquiries into the Lawrence murder.

Mr Justice Treacy told members of the jury that they must base their verdict solely on what they have heard in the courtroom and to ignore the "irrelevant" past.