Stephen Lawrence killers get life sentences

(BBC):Two men found guilty of the 1993 racist murder of Stephen Lawrence in south east London have been jailed for life. Gary Dobson, 36, will serve a minimum of 15years and two months and David Norris, 35, 14 years and three months. The pair was sentenced at the Old Bailey as if they were juveniles because both were under 18 when the black teenager died. The judge, Mr Justice Treacy, described the crime as a "murder which scarred the conscience of the nation".

Norris and Dobson were the first people convicted over the fatal attack on Mr Lawrence by a group of white youths near a bus stop in Eltham in April 1993.

Speaking outside court, Stephen Lawrence's mother Doreen said the minimum terms were quite low but she recognised "the judges' hands were tied" and thanked him for his sentencing remarks which recognised the stress the family had suffered for 18 years.

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