Gary Dobson, 35, and David Norris, 34, two members of the race-hate gang originally accused of killing
Stephen Lawrence could soon be charged with the 1993 murder. They will face a jury in November 2011, 18
years after the A-Level student was stabbed to death at a bus stop in south east London. This made possible by
a change in the law.
The double jeopardy rule that for centuries protected those acquitted of an offence from retrial was removed
six years ago. Under the Criminal Justice Act 2003, those found not guilty of certain serious offences can be
ordered to face a second trial if "new and compelling" evidence has emerged. Any retrial since 2005 has had
to be approved by the director of public prosecutions, it must be in the public interest, and the appeal court
must first quash the previous acquittal. Following a sensational DNA breakthrough in the case, senior Police
officers are now 'very hopeful' that they will be able to press criminal charges. Further forensic tests, carried
out earlier this year, have strengthened the belief that there is sufficient evidence to mount a successful
prosecution.