Stephen Lawrence’s mother, Doreen Lawrence, has announced that his body will be brought back to the UK from Jamaica after 31 years. This decision comes as a response to their wish to have Stephen closer to them.
Baroness Lawrence shared that they had originally buried him in Jamaica because they believed he wouldn’t find peace in the UK.
However, recent distressing images of Stephen’s grave, which surfaced on social media following his exhumation, led the family to rethink their decision.
Baroness Lawrence expressed her family’s anguish over the social media posts of Stephen’s grave.
She explained that the choice to bury Stephen in Jamaica was made with the intention of honoring his peace, but after three decades, the family feels it’s time to bring him home. The images, taken after the funeral home exhumed Stephen’s body, were not meant to be public.
The family was deeply upset by the funeral home’s decision to keep the grave open to the public and by the lack of sensitivity shown by those who posted the images online.
Struggles for Justice
The murder of Stephen Lawrence by a racist gang in Eltham, South East London, in April 1993 has been a long and painful ordeal for his family.
The investigation into his death was tainted by institutional racism, incompetence, and alleged corruption within the Metropolitan Police. Despite their efforts, only two of the killers have been brought to justice.
Further complications have arisen with the case, including undercover police spying on campaigners who supported the Lawrence family and a recent revelation of failures involving a sixth suspect, Matthew White.
Ongoing Disappointments
In June, Baroness Lawrence expressed her frustration and disappointment over a decision not to charge four officers involved in the original flawed investigation.
She described this as a new low in how her family has been treated by the criminal justice system. Additionally, a BBC investigation revealed that White, who passed away in 2021, played a central role in the attack on Stephen. The police misidentified a key witness, Jack Severs, due to confusion over White’s stepfathers, which the Met has called a significant error.
Call for Respect
The Lawrence family is now calling for privacy and respect during this challenging time. They hope that the distress caused by the leaked images will be addressed and that their request for privacy will be honored.
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