Stephen Lawrence’s body exhumed for return to UK – as family expresses distress over photos of grave on social media | UK News

Stephen Lawrence’s body will be returned from Jamaica to the UK 31 years after his racist murder, his mother Doreen Lawrence has said.

In a statement released through her lawyer, Baroness Lawrence said that images of her son’s grave appeared on social media after his body was exhumed, causing “distress” to the family.

She said the family decided to “bring Stephen home to be closer to us” after originally burying him on the Caribbean island because they felt “he would not be at peace in this country.”

Mr. Lourenço was murdered by a gang of racists in Eltham, south-east London, in April 1993, as he was catching a bus with his friend Duwayne Brooks.

Only two of his five or six killers were brought to justice.

The original police investigation into the 18-year-old’s death was marred by institutional racism in the Metropolitan Police, incompetence and alleged corruption.

Baroness Lawrence’s statement said: “My family and I have been made aware of recent images of my son’s grave which have circulated on social media.

“After Stephen’s passing, we made the decision to bury him in Jamaica as we felt he would not be at peace in this country. After 31 years, we decided as a family that we would like to bring Stephen home. he is closer to us.

“The images circulating were taken after the funeral home exhumed Stephen’s body.

“However, we would like to express our distress at the funeral home’s lack of consideration for our feelings and privacy, as evidenced by the decision to leave Stephen’s grave open to the public rather than closed,” the statement added.

“We are disheartened by the individual who chose to take images and post them on social media without considering the potential impact on our family.

“We had hoped to have carried out this delicate task privately, but due to unforeseen circumstances, this was not possible.

“We apologize for any distress caused to anyone who viewed the images and kindly request that, out of respect for us and our privacy, they be removed from all media platforms.”

See more information:
Met Police apologize to Doreen Lawrence
Lawrence’s father says he will ‘never forgive the police’
New suspect named 30 years later

In June, Baroness Lawrence said she was “perplexed, disappointed and angered” by a decision upheld not charge four officers involved in the original and botched investigation of her son’s murder.

She said the decision marked “a new low” in the way her family has been treated by the criminal justice system and means no police officer will ever take responsibility for the failings in the case.