Macpherson doubt on Lawrence case

The author of the report into the Stephen Lawrence case has said for the first time that he doubts whether one of the five prime suspects was involved in the racist murder.

Sir William Macpherson, whose report blamed institutional racism and incompetence for police failings in the case, also questions whether any of the men branded as murderers could be put back in the dock.

In an interview with The Spectator magazine, Sir William is adamant that the Government is right to follow his recommendation to scrap the double jeopardy rule whereby no one can be tried twice for the same offence. The change would mean people cleared of murder, manslaughter, rape and armed robbery could be brought back to court if "compelling fresh evidence has come to light".

Sir William said the 800-year-old rule is "ridiculous" where DNA evidence can now provide compelling proof of guilt. He said: "People get hot under the collar about double jeopardy and the risk of injustice, but I get hot under the collar at the thought of compelling evidence, which the High Court thought ought to be put before a jury. That's an injustice, isn't it?" However, turning to the detail of the murder of teenager Stephen Lawrence, who was stabbed to death by white youths in Eltham in 1993, he makes clear that after all that has been written, the Appeal Court would have to consider whether the prime suspects could ever have a fair trial.

He said: "I doubted whether one of them, Gary Dobson, had been involved. Although he told considerable fibs, he always answered the question and he never confessed."

Asked if the planned change in the double jeopardy law could see the Lawrence five back on trial, Sir William said: "Certainly not at the moment, because there is no further evidence. Of course, if someone discovered a bloodstained knife under a floorboard in the Acourts' house, or a bloodstained jacket, that would be different."

Three of the accused, Neil Acourt, Dobson and Luke Knight, cannot currently be prosecuted for murder because they were acquitted at a private prosecution in 1996. David Norris and Jamie Acourt could still be tried because murder charges against them never reached court.