Stephen Lawrence's body to be returned to the UK

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

Baroness Lawrence said images of her son's grave had appeared on social media after his body was exhumed, which had caused the family "distress".

The Lawrence family laid the 18-year-old to rest overseas because they felt "he would not be at peace in this country".

Mr Lawrence, who was black British and from Plumstead, south-east London, was killed in a racially motivated attack while waiting for a bus in Eltham in April 1993.

Only two of his five or six killers have been 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.

In a statement issued through her lawyer, Baroness Lawrence said: “My family and I have been made aware of the recent images of my son’s grave that have been circulated on social media.

“After 31 years, we have decided as a family that we would like to bring Stephen home to be closer to us.”