Lawrence Parents Arrive For His Murder Trial

The parents of Stephen Lawrence have arrived at the Old Bailey as the trial begins of two men accused of the teenager's murder.

Doreen and Neville Lawrence are in court to see the start of the trial of Gary Dobson, 36, and David Norris, 35, both of south London.

Dobson and Norris deny murdering the black 18 year old who was stabbed to death by a gang of white youths in April 1993.

The A-level student had been waiting at a bus stop in south east London with his friend Duwayne Brooks.

The trial, which will be heard before judge Mr Justice Treacy, is expected to last until Christmas.

A jury panel is due to be selected today but the case will not be opened until later this week.

The prosecution is led by Mark Ellison, QC, while Timothy Roberts, QC, defends Dobson and Stephen Batten, QC, represents Norris.

It is the second trial for Dobson who had his 1996 acquittal quashed by the Court of Appeal earlier this year.

The judgment, written by the lord chief justice of England and Wales, declared Stephen was "a young black man of great promise, targeted and killed by a group of white youths just because of the colour of his skin".

It continued: "As they waited peacefully for the bus, a group of white youths crossed the road towards them.

"One of the youths used abusive racist language. This was followed by a sudden and immediate attack, as the group converged on or charged at them."