Lawrence parents accused by police
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.THE BITTERNESS and controversy over the race murder of Stephen Lawrence has resurfaced after an extraordinary attack on the dead youth's parents by the officer who was second in command of the police investigation.
Detective Inspector Ben Bullock, who last week was given two cautions in the only police disciplinary hearing over the the bungled inquiry, accused Neville and Doreen Lawrence of manipulating the case for political reasons. He said their actions and those of their legal team contributed to the failure of the investigation and thus Stephen's killers remaining free.
Mr Bullock said the Lawrence family had gone for "maximum publicity" following Stephen's fatal stabbing at a bus stop in Eltham, south-east London, in April 1993. He said a visit by former South African president Nelson Mandela had put pressure on the police inquiry rather than furthering its cause.
"It would have been great to have used the Mandela visit as a vehicle to get our appeals across to the public but we were cut out of it and the whole thrust of the publicity seemed to be against us - the police," he said.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments