Stephen Lawrence Detectives Will Not Face Prosecution

[naomi24]

//Four retired detectives who ran the first Stephen Lawrence murder investigation should not face criminal charges for their actions in the case, a review has concluded.

The BBC has been told the review, by a senior CPS lawyer, upholds a previous decision not to prosecute, which was challenged by Stephen's parents and friend.

It found there was insufficient evidence for a realistic prospect of conviction and therefore none of the four will be charged.

Stephen was murdered in April 1993 in a racist attack in south London.

The initial investigation failed to bring anyone to justice - although two men were jailed in 2012 for Stephen's murder.//

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cq557j53ln5o

 

Right or wrong?

[ToraToraTora]

Hard to say what offence was potentially committed. At best indifference and incompetance, at worse bias, deliberate under performance and racism. I agree with the CPS that would never stick.

[THECORBYLOON]

The link shows they were looking at the offence of "misconduct in public office".

'Misconduct in public office (“MiPO”) is a common law offence that can be tried only on indictment. It carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. The offence concerns serious wilful abuse or neglect of the power or responsibilities of the public office held. There must be a direct link between the misconduct and an abuse of those powers or responsibilities.'

[youngmafbog]

It would be pointless after all this time.

[Ellipsis]

Hmm, probably true that there is no realistic prospect of conviction. At the same time, if it was one of those four detectives that had been murdered back in April 1993, in an anti-police attack in south London, criminal charges for anyone involved would probably still go ahead in that case ...

[youngmafbog]

Only if the CPS had sufficient evidence/witnesses.  Which after this amount of time would be unlikely (Although that way round DNA evidence might be applicable which it probably wouldnt in  this case)

[Ellipsis]

Exactly ...

[Peter Pedant]

it was all so long ago - 25 y and it is not  as though they collected and carefully kept the evidence.

It was tried long ago with the police who mishandled the IRA bombers cases - and the jury acquitted

https://www.theguardian.com/theguardian/2013/may/20/guildford-four-detectives-cleared

[Ellipsis]

> it was all so long ago - 25 y

Can you believe 31 years ago ...