Local MP: Closure for the people of Eltham
Clive Efford, Labour MP for Eltham, comments on the verdict in the Stephen Lawrence trial:
"Today’s verdict is a tribute to the determination and dignity of Stephen’s parents Doreen and Neville. I hope that this partial justice brings some solace to the family.
"I would also like to pay tribute to the work carried out by the police who brought this prosecution. The Met Police has justifiably been heavily criticised for the way that they handled the initial investigations into Stephen’s death, but the tenacious and detailed forensic work carried out by the police in this case deserves a great deal of praise.
"I hope that the verdict also brings some closure for the people of Eltham. For many years they have suffered from a sustained campaign from sections of the media keen to depict this community as the only one with problems associated with racism. The idea that the police met with silence from the local community was undermined when Appendix 11, listing all of those who came forward and gave evidence identifying those responsible, was released with the MacPherson inquiry. I hope that this verdict will allow some form of release for this community.
"The court heard strong evidence that at least five people were in the group that killed Stephen and so the guilty verdict of only two people, however welcome, can only be partial justice. But today’s verdict shows that those responsible cannot ever relax as new scientific techniques like those used in this case continue to be developed.
"Above all I hope that this case will act as a watershed and that any family which tragically faces the same circumstances will not be met with the injustices which the Lawrence family has had to fight and overcome."
