THE Metropolitan Police commissioner, Sir Paul Condon, yesterday made an unprecedented apology to the parents of the murdered teenager Stephen Lawrence for failing to bring his killers to justice.
Sir PaulÕs message was delivered by assistant commissioner Ian Johnston at the public inquiry into StephenÕs racist murder in 1993. Mr Johnston was about to give his evidence when he said he would like to make a statement, and asked if Neville Lawrence, StephenÕs father, was in the building.
A minute later Mr Lawrence was brought into the inquiry chamber and Mr Johnston said: ÒMr Lawrence, I wanted to say that I am truly sorry that we let you down.
ÒOn behalf of myself and the commissioner, who specifically asked me to associate himself with these words, and the whole of the Metropolitan Police, I offer my sincere and deep apologies to you.Ó
Mr Lawrence said: ÒWhilst we accept the commissionerÕs apology, we do not forget that StephenÕs killers are still free.Ó
Of the five youths charged with the murder, two never came to trial and three were acquitted at a private prosecution in 1996.