Many Lib Dems will know Duwayne Brooks as a dedicated Lib Dem, a councillor in Lewisham and the party’s lead member on the Safer Communities Board at the Local Government Group. To most of the public, though, he is better known as the best friend of Stephen Lawrence, whose murder was the subject of the Macpherson report into London’s Metropolitan Police.
And it is that night on 22 April 1993 which Duwayne has once again been forced to re-live this week, as was widely reported in the media yesterday. Here’s an extract from The Guardian’s report:
Duwayne Brooks, who was with Stephen Lawrence on the night he was attacked, sobbed openly in court as he described how his friend kept asking: “What’s happened to me? Look at me?” after the fatal attack. Brooks came to the Old Bailey shortly after the death on Wednesday night of his father, the jury was told.
Despite his acute grief, he had insisted on giving evidence of what he witnessed the night the teenager he called his “best friend” was killed. The two defendants, Gary Dobson, 36, and David Norris, 35, deny murdering Lawrence.
It has clearly been a harrowing week for Duwayne. We at LibDemVoice extend our sympathies to him, as well as our deep admiration for his sheer courage.
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3 Comments
Should there really be public posts like this about witnesses in an ongoing criminal trial?
Whyever not, in this case? In the UK trial witnesses are only secluded up to the time they give testimony.
Duwaynes’ testimony has been extensively reported in the press. He is an active LibDem politician and public figure.
Readers of this site may not be aware of that – though googling his name would quickly reveal it. I think this post increases our admiration for and sympathy with him.
Come on Hywel, I know you know the law – but this posting is about Duwayne not a court case.
Duwayne is a member of the Lib Dem “family” and I know he has received and appreciates a huge number of supportive messages from Lib Dems from around the country. It has been a difficult few days for him but I think the friendship and admiration expressed by his fellow Lib Dems have been a tremendous support to him – thanks Stephen for your comments.