Lawrence tells of moment of verdict (From This is The West Country)
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Lawrence tells of moment of verdict
12:06am Sunday 10th June 2012 in National News © Press Association 2013
Doreen Lawrence runs a charitable trust in memory of her son Stephen, who was murdered by racist thugs
Stephen Lawrence's mother Doreen said she had to "hold" herself from screaming when she heard the jury pronounce two men guilty of her son's murder.
The campaigner described how she still speaks to her son when she visits the spot where he died on a pavement in Eltham, south-east London, in 1993.
Speaking on Desert Island Discs, she said: "During the trial I couldn't read the jury, I couldn't tell and so my heart was in my mouth when we went back downstairs and when they said guilty I suppose I had to hold myself in from screaming out because I had the press on one side, because I never thought I'd hear those words, I never thought I'd hear someone found guilty of Stephen's death."
Mrs Lawrence, who was made an OBE in 2003 and runs a trust set up in her son's name, chose a song called You're Loved which was inspired by some of the last words spoken to her son by a couple who found him dying in the street.
She said: "For me it meant so much that the couple.. said to him 'you're loved'."
Mrs Lawrence said she visits times a year the spot where he died three.
She said: "I go on the anniversary of his death, I go on his birthday and I go at Christmas time and I bring flowers for him and I stay as long as I can because I always feel a bit nervous when I'm there and I talk to him, tell him the news."
Earlier this month, it was announced that a leading barrister will review the Scotland Yard investigation into allegations of corruption at the heart of the case.
David Norris and Gary Dobson were convicted of the racist murder of the teenager in January this year - 19 years after the crime - and sentenced to life at the Old Bailey.
The Metropolitan Police faced fierce criticism of the original investigation and a public inquiry branded the force institutionally racist.
Comments(1)
Cleopatra
says...
10:18am Sun 10 Jun 12
You can talk to him every day in your home because he is there with you.
Instead of torturing yourself by visiting the spot where he died, why not have a portrait photo in a special spot in your home and you can place your flowers beside it. Stephen will see and know your thoughts and will know that they are special for him.
Good luck for the future and I hope the scars will heal for you very soon.
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