In the spotlight

Ever since they were splashed across the Daily Mail's front page under the headline "Murderers", the "Lawrence Five" have for many become the public face of racism in Britain.

Jamie and Neil Acourt, Gary Dobson, Luke Knight and David Norris have all, at one time or another, been charged with murdering Stephen Lawrence.

Three of them - Neil Acourt, Mr Knight and Mr Dobson - were formally acquitted at the Old Bailey in 1996. Jamie Acourt and Mr Norris have never stood trial. Yet, such has been the moral outrage over the case, the men have remained fixed in the public eye.

Sir William Macpherson's inquiry officially referred to the five men as "the suspects". But whatever the truth, they have hardly gone out of their way to assist the official attempts to find out.

This fact, coupled with a secretly-shot police surveillance video, which shows them brandishing knives and exchanging sadistic racial abuse, has done little to help their case.

Wall of silence

The five kept up a wall of silence when questioned at Stephen's inquest in 1997.

One-by-one the men claimed the common law right of privilege against self- incrimination at the hearing.

Their contempt for the proceedings was exemplified by the response of Mr Norris, when asked: "Are you called David Norris?"

To laughter, he replied: "I am claiming privilege on that question."

Their actions prompted the famous Daily Mail front-page, which called the five "murderers" and challenged them to sue the paper if it was wrong. No writ has yet been issued.

There were chaotic scenes as the five left the inquiry

Their appearance at the Macpherson inquiry last year was much the same, with each responding to questions from lawyers with monosyllabic answers.

As they left the inquiry at the end of the day, the men were jostled, spat at and targeted with bottles. In retaliation they too spat and threw punches.

But the Lawrence Five and their families have attempted to protest their innocence outside the courtroom. The Sunday Telegraph reported they had met the publicist Max Clifford last August to discuss the possibility of putting their side of the story in a television interview.

Their parents also issued a statement, provoked by a TV programme about the men.

The letter attacked their "crucifixion by the media" and explained the content of the police surveillance video as "a product of what happened to our sons".

More recently the mothers reinforced their criticisms in a BBC Radio interview. They added that they would be prepared to give evidence in any libel action against the Daily Mail.

And in the case of Gary Dobson, Kent Police - who carried out a report for the Police Complaints Authority - have suggested he should be treated differently as four adults have confirmed his presence elsewhere on the night of the murder.

Father's influence

Throughout the case, the five suspects have remained in south-east London where they grew up.

David Norris was already known to police there through his family connections. His father is Clifford Norris, the known south London gangster. He owns an imposing house in Chislehurst.

Despite currently serving an eight-year prison term for drugs and firearms offences, the community is said to remain scared of his influence. And during the inquiry, the chairman said that the shadow of Clifford Norris loomed large in the case.

In early February, claims surfaced in the press that fresh criminal charges could be brought against the men. The most probable charges were thought to be conspiracy to murder, affray and assault. One or other of them could also be charged with perjury.

But some legal experts have been quick to dismiss the likelihood of such action, leaving the public to wonder if they will ever learn the truth about Stephen's killers.