Neville Lawrence, the father of murdered teenager Stephen Lawrence, has broken his silence to express his dismay at his ex-wife Baroness Doreen Lawrence's decision to join legal action against the Daily Mail. He stated that he is certain no one would have been imprisoned for his son's murder without the newspaper's persistent campaigning.
In an interview, Neville Lawrence described the Daily Mail's justice campaign as "the best thing that has happened to me" since Stephen's death in 1993. He expressed being "appalled and dumbfounded" that his former wife had allegedly been persuaded to join a plot to discredit the newspaper and its journalists, calling it a "lowest form of betrayal."
Lawrence recounted an incident at a 2018 memorial service for Stephen, where he claims his ex-wife, aware of the arrangements, deliberately excluded him from the VIP guest list. He stated he was told his name was not on the list and he would have to queue, while others, including Prime Minister Theresa May and Opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn, were present. He eventually gained entry with the help of then Metropolitan Police Commissioner Cressida Dick.
He also detailed his anguish over Baroness Lawrence's decision to have Stephen's body exhumed from its burial site in Jamaica and brought back to Britain in the summer of 2024, a move he was not consulted about. He expressed further distress upon seeing a video of the exhumation posted online.
The article suggests a potential link between Baroness Lawrence's involvement in the lawsuit and a message received from Prince Harry in January 2022. According to the report, Harry urged her to meet his lawyers, who had uncovered information concerning her. Baroness Lawrence reportedly stated that Harry felt she should be informed about matters that kept cropping up concerning her.
Neville Lawrence expressed his continued lack of communication with his ex-wife, stating, "I don't know what's wrong with Doreen, or why she has gone against you, because I no longer talk to her." He speculated that her actions might stem from a desire to be part of the British establishment or jealousy of his relationship with the Daily Mail. "I have the best relationship with the Mail - it has been everything to me. Why would anyone turn on the people who have helped their case the most?" he questioned.
The report highlights the role of Baroness Lawrence's long-time lawyer, Imran Khan, in her legal proceedings. It notes Khan's past political affiliations and his close working relationship with Baroness Lawrence, suggesting a shared political perspective may have influenced her stance against the newspaper.
David Sherborne, the barrister representing Baroness Lawrence, reportedly presented allegations of illegal surveillance and data access by the Daily Mail. However, the article contends these claims were based on the word of campaigners with a "visceral hatred" for the newspaper and that a key private detective involved, Gavin Burrows, later recanted his statement, claiming it was fabricated and his signature forged.
The article emphasizes the significant role of the Daily Mail and its former editor Paul Dacre in the Justice for Stephen campaign, which led to the convictions of Gary Dobson and David Norris for Stephen's murder. It suggests that Baroness Lawrence may resent the fact that a right-of-centre newspaper championed her cause.