The investigation into the murder of Stephen Lawrence has been shelved by police after 27 years.
18-year-old Stephen Lawrence was killed in an unprovoked racist attack by a gang of sive men while waiting for a bus in Eltham, London on April 22 1993.
Nearly 20 years after the crime, two people – David Norris and Gary Dobson – received life sentences after being convicted of murder but the other men involved have still not been brought to justice.
Despite this, police have now said “identified lines of inquiry have been completed” for the case and it has moved to an “inactive phase”.
Stephen’s father, Neville Lawrence, said: “I am disappointed to hear this news but not surprised.”
“I had hoped that the conviction of two of the killers in 2012 would lead to new evidence coming to light and a prosecution of the other suspects,” he said.
“This has unfortunately not happened and, over the last few years, I have had to come to terms with the reality that some of the killers of Stephen may never be brought to justice for what they did.”
Stephen’s mother Baroness Doreen Lawrence said: “Whilst the Metropolitan Police have given up, I never will”.
“I am very sad that a line has now been drawn into the investigation […] despite this, I would still urge anyone who has any information that could help me get all of Stephen’s killers convicted, to come forward.”
She added: “It is never too late to give a mother justice for the murder of her son.”
Met Police Commissioner, Dame Cressida Dick, said that Scotland Yard has given Stephen’s family “the assurance that we will continue to deal with any new information that comes to light”.
“This was an appalling racist murder and I am sad that we have been unable to secure further convictions for Stephen, his family and friends.”