The Metropolitan Police has apologised to the mother of Stephen Lawrence for breaking a promise to answer questions raised by a BBC investigation into his murder.
Baroness Doreen Lawrence was promised an explanation after the broadcaster named Matthew White as the sixth suspect in the case last year.
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Matt Ward, who oversaw the case, had initial correspondence with Baroness Lawrence regarding the new suspect, beginning in October 2023.
He told her he would have an update within a week on November 16, 2023, however, this never came.
The Met Police have issued an apology to Baroness Lawrence after they broke a promise
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Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley has now issued an apology, telling the broadcaster: “On top of the failures over the decades this is totally unacceptable.”
Stephen Lawrence was murdered by a gang of racists on 22 April 1993, in Eltham, southeast London.
A group of white men stopped the 19-year-old while he ran to catch a bus with his friend Duwayne Brooks.
Just two of his killers – Gary Dobson and David Norris – have ever been brought to justice.
Matthew White – the sixth suspect – was publicly identified by the BBC last year.
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Baroness Doreen Lawrence was promised an explanation from the police after the BBC named Matthew White as the sixth suspect in the case last year
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Two witnesses said White, who died in 2021 at the age of 50, had confessed to being present during the attack.
White’s stepfather, one of the witnesses, was not spoken to by the police until 20 years after the murder, due to officers misidentifying him in the past.
White was arrested twice in relation to the murder, however both times, police said that there was not enough evidence for a prosecution.
Baroness Lawrence has since said that her son’s murder inquiry should be reopened.
She told the BBC: “(White)'s probably the key one who probably caused Stephen's murder, and (the Met) did nothing about it.
Sir Mark Rowley apologised to Baroness Lawrence over the lack of communication regarding the new suspect
PA“I'm not sure what they're hiding behind, why they can't come and tell me exactly what they knew then.”
Sir Mark responded in a statement: “We recognise this is a particularly difficult time for the Lawrence family and Duwayne Brooks. I am sorry our failure to respond in a timely fashion has added to this.
“On top of the failures over the decades, this is totally unacceptable.
“Restoring trust in the Met is one of my top priorities and that includes how we work with those affected by the failures of the past.
“I apologise to Baroness Lawrence who must have answers to all her questions. I have written to her and offered to meet.”
The force stopped investigating the murder in 2020, stating that it had exhausted all lines of enquiry.
