Stephen Lawrence killer is ‘unreliable narrator’ who is not ready to be released, psychologist says
One of Stephen Lawrence’s killers is an “unreliable narrator” who is not ready to be released, a prison psychologist has told the parole board.
David Norris, 49, yesterday apologized for his role in the teenager’s racist murder as he appeared at a parole hearing in his bid for freedom.
However, a prison psychologist identified inconsistencies in the evidence Norris gave to the panel, suggesting the killer was “an unreliable narrator of his own life.”
“It was quite confusing to hear the evidence – sometimes accepting things, sometimes going back to that, and sometimes confusing around dates,” the expert said.
He added that he didn’t know whether this was due to the pressure of the hearing or whether he was “cautious” in a public forum, but noted: “He wants to be careful about what he admits.”
The prison-appointed expert said that although Norris had made “some progress” he did not believe he would be moved to release testing or open conditions.
“I would argue that he should remain in closed conditions,” he told the hearing.
The psychologist noted that Norris admitted during the nine-hour evaluation to using racially profane language during an incident with another inmate in 2017.
However, giving evidence to the panel, Norris said he could not remember using the offensive term for a Muslim prisoner.
Asked by panel member Dr Duncan Harding whether the discrepancy was due to bad memory or whether Norris was “deliberately trying to rewrite history”, the psychologist replied: “I don’t know the answer to that, but I would say it’s probably a combination of these things.
“Sometimes he has a good memory and good detail for certain things, sometimes less so.
He added that Norris had a lack of racial awareness and was more likely to use racist language during periods of mental ill health or frustration.
But the psychologist said he believed the remorse Norris showed was “genuine” and that his parole hearing had already been scheduled.
A second psychologist appointed by Norris claimed the killer faced the challenge of being released or moved to open conditions.
He noted that he spent 19 years in the community before being convicted, during which time he was not charged with another crime.
He acknowledged there was some “narrative confusion” in Norris’ evidence to the parole panel: “I think it’s a combination of this being a public hearing, this being Mr Norris’s first hearing.
“I think he’s not typically someone who will convey himself in the most effective way.”
He also claimed that his history of violence was not racially motivated and also included “football violence” and “postcode violence”, indicating that his racist attitudes likely reinforced a group context.
Only two of Mr Lawrence’s five or six alleged attackers ever faced justice. Norris was jailed in 2012 for life with a minimum of 14 years, along with Gary Dobson, who must serve at least 15 years.
Yesterday, Norris, now 49, publicly acknowledged his role in the racist murder for the first time, telling the teenager’s family he was “deeply sorry”.
He said he was caught in a “gang mentality” as he explained he punched the 18-year-old aspiring architect because he was crouching on the ground.
Norris told the hearing there were five people involved in the murder, but said his family would be “at risk” if he named other killers. He claimed that he did not see the 22cm knife that administered the fatal blows until he fled the scene.
Norris never spoke about the incident, other than telling the hearing: “Group, be careful what you say from here and it’s never spoken of again.”
He insisted that “group loyalty” or “the Criminal Code” prevented him from naming his accomplices: “There is only one reason and one reason, because I am worried about the safety of my family.”
However, Mr Lawrence’s grieving mother told the panel he was an “obvious danger to society” and should not be released.
Baroness Doreen Lawrence recalled hearing a shocking police recording from 1994 of Norris and Dobson, known as the Footscray Tapes, in which Norris discussed how he would kill “every black c***” he knew.
Baroness Lawrence added: “Any person who expresses such views and fails to retract is an obvious danger to society and should remain in custody.”
Mr. Lawrence’s father said “Justice has not been done” if Norris is released without naming other members of the gang.
The prison trial is being transferred to a room at the Royal Courts of Justice where members of the public, including Baroness Lawrence, can observe the proceedings.
Wearing a gray long-sleeved top and using a hearing loop, Norris can only be seen from behind.
Norris was returned to category B after being caught with mobile phones and a screwdriver in 2022.
The trial continues.
