Lawrence killer appeal bid 'unarguable'

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-22544011

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The appeal bid by one of the killers of Stephen Lawrence was "unarguable" and his trial judge's approach "cannot be faulted", the Court of Appeal has said.

David Norris was jailed for life in January 2012 for murdering the student in Eltham, south-east London, in 1993.

His application for leave to appeal against his conviction was dismissed last week.

The newly-published ruling has detailed how two pieces of evidence crucial to the case were admissible.

The three judges refused an application by the QC representing Norris to adjourn the case for the defence to obtain expert opinion on the question of "secondary" transfer of DNA.

Lord Justice Leveson said the trial judge's consideration of this feature of the case exceeded 100 pages of the transcript of his summing up and "there was no aspect of this possibility that was not explored in detail".

The judge also found another crucial strata of the prosecution case - the so-called Footscray evidence - was admissible.

'Exceptional features'

The evidence was footage obtained by police following covert surveillance within a private flat in Footscray Road, Eltham, which "involved the applicant together with friends in behaviour which was racist and violent".

Norris's counsel had argued the evidence, in a case with such "exceptional features and unique profile", risked causing substantial prejudice "out of proportion with any probative value".

But the appeal judges backed the trial judge's decision to allow it.

Norris is serving a minimum of 14 years and three months, while the other killer Gary Dobson was jailed for 15 years and two months.

Dobson previously withdrew an appeal against his sentence.

Police are still investigating the case in an attempt to bring others to justice over the attack.