One of Stephen Lawrence’s racist murderers may have to admit being at the scene of the killing if he wants to be freed.

Gary Dobson, 51, has made his first parole bid after being jailed for life in 2012 for murdering the teenager, along with David Norris, 50.

The pair were locked up after new scientific evidence was presented to the Old Bailey – including a stain on Dobson’s jacket which matched Mr Lawrence’s blood.

The verdicts came after the Daily Mail led a campaign for justice for Mr Lawrence, who died after being set upon by a group of white youths near a bus stop in Eltham on April 22, 1993.

Sentencing Dobson and Norris, Mr Justice Treacy described Mr Lawrence as a ‘totally innocent 18-year-old youth on the threshold of a promising life’, who was ‘brutally cut down in the street in front of eyewitnesses by a racist thuggish gang’.

Mr Lawrence was waiting for a bus with a friend when he was attacked, stabbed repeatedly and left to die on the pavement, prosecutors said.

Police mugshot of Gary Dobson after he was finally charged with Stephen Lawrence’s murder

Stephen Lawrence was ‘brutally cut down in the street by a racist thuggish gang’

The Parole Board on Monday confirmed the Ministry of Justice had referred Dobson for a parole review – which is set to be opposed by Mr Lawrence’s parents, Baroness Doreen Lawrence and Dr Neville Lawrence.

A spokesperson for the Parole Board said: ‘We can confirm the parole review of Gary Dobson has been referred to the Parole Board by the Secretary of State for Justice and is following standard processes.

‘Parole Board decisions are solely focused on what risk a prisoner could represent to the public if released and whether that risk is manageable in the community.’

The Parole Board said it would ‘carefully examine a huge range of evidence, including details of the original crime, and any evidence of behaviour change, as well as explore the harm done and impact the crime has had on the victims’.

It added: ‘Evidence from witnesses such as probation officers, psychiatrists and psychologists, officials supervising the offender in prison as well as victim personal statements may be given at the hearing.

‘It is standard for the prisoner and witnesses to be questioned at length during the hearing which often lasts a full day or more. Parole reviews are always undertaken thoroughly and with extreme care. Protecting the public is our number one priority.’

The Daily Mail front page in January 2012 when Dobson and Norris were convicted

Stephen Lawrence’s father, Dr Neville Lawrence, has vowed to oppose Dobson’s bid for parole

The Parole Board said it could not comment ‘on to what extent individual prisoners have admitted their guilt’.

Prisoners do not have to admit their crime to be granted parole but continued denials make it less likely they will be freed.

The Parole Board said it could not yet comment on when a hearing will take place or whether it would be heard in public, as Norris’s was.

Co-defendant Norris, jailed for life with a minimum term of 14 years and three months, was denied parole last December after a public hearing in which he appeared via videolink and refused to show his face.

Although he finally admitted his role after years of denials – claiming he punched Mr Lawrence as he tried to run away – he refused to name others involved in Stephen’s killing to ‘protect his family’.

Dobson, who was ordered to serve a minimum term of 15 years and two months in 2012, and Norris are the only two people convicted of Mr Lawrence’s murder.

But they were among five young men whose names and photographs were infamously published on the front page of the Daily Mail on February 14, 1997, with the headline: ‘Murderers’ and the message: ‘The Mail accuses these men of killing. If we are wrong, let them sue us.’

Parole experts will now look closely at Dobson’s case, his current mindset and progress made in prison.

It comes amid huge controversy surrounding the release of dangerous prisoners back in the community.

Although Dobson is not part of the early release scheme, the fact he is being considered for release at this stage will raise alarm.

In 2022, an investigation was launched after Norris – handed a life term with a minimum 14 years and three months in jail – reportedly obtained a mobile phone in prison and sent selfies to friends.

During his parole hearing last October, it emerged Norris showed signs that he continued to hold racist views – including reportedly throwing faeces at Muslim prisoners, using the N-word and telling his daughter he did not want black grandchildren.

Dr Lawrence and his former wife opposed Norris’s parole, but said earlier this year he was prepared for Dobson to also apply for parole.

Speaking in April, Dr Lawrence vowed to oppose Dobson being granted parole.

He said: ‘We are waiting to hear because I’m sure he’s going to try to get parole as well.

‘But no matter what they try to do there’s always ways to make it harder.’

Of the other youths on the Daily Mail front page, brothers Neil and Jamie Acourt have served prison sentences for drug dealing. Another, Luke Knight, has remained free and all deny involvement in Mr Lawrence’s death.

A sixth suspect, Matthew White, was named for the first time in 2023 in a BBC documentary but had died two years previously aged 50 in 2021.