Lawrence suspects face new charges

The alleged killers of teenager Stephen Lawrence may face fresh criminal charges more than nine years after his death, it emerged today.

The Crown Prosecution Service is expected to inform Scotland Yard within four weeks if there is enough evidence to bring new charges against the five original suspects and a further two friends.

Under an investigation led by Deputy Assistant Commissioner John Grieve, police believe they have sufficient evidence to bring seven people to trial following a three-year investigation into the murder, in which Stephen was stabbed at a bus stop in Eltham.

The CPS is considering charges of conspiracy to cause grievous bodily harm and conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.

A number of other racist attacks in south London allegedly connected to the suspects have also been reexamined as part of the investigation, including the stabbing of Stacey Benefield a month before Stephen's death.

One police source said today: "A lot of files have been sent to the CPS for their consideration and we will be informed as to any decision in the near future. It is a matter of debate as to whether anyone charged could get a fair trial due to what has been said in the past."

Gary Dobson, Neil Acourt and Luke Knight were acquitted of the Lawrence murder in 1996. The case against them collapsed when evidence from Stephen's friend, Duwayne Brookes, was rejected. The case against two further suspects, Jamie Acourt and David Norris, was also dropped before it reached court.

Norris and Neil Acourt were charged with attempted murder but only Norris was sent to trial. Despite allegations of witness and jury bribing by Norris's father, he was acquitted.

An inquest into Stephen's death decided that he had been "unlawfully killed in a completely unprovoked racist attack by five white youths".