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The sixth suspect: Stephen Lawrence, investigative journalism and racial inequality

Hosted by the International Inequalities Institute

In-person and online public event (Old Theatre, Old Building)

Speakers

Daniel De Simone

Daniel De Simone

Ann-Marie Cousins

Ann-Marie Cousins

Discussant

Dr Clive Nwonka

Dr Clive Nwonka

Discussant

Chair

Professor Shakuntala Banaji

Professor Shakuntala Banaji

In June 2023, a major BBC investigation led by BBC News reporter Daniel De Simone produced new evidence that revealed the identity of a previously unnamed key suspect in the April 1993 racist murder of Black teenager Stephen Lawrence by a gang of 5-6 white men in Eltham, South East London that changed policing and race relations in Britain. The news report, and its accompanying BBC One documentary Stephen Lawrence: The Sixth Suspect received worldwide coverage and was met with widespread public demands for an inquiry into the Metropolitan Police’s failure to identify the key suspect and renewed calls for the re-opening of the Stephen Lawrence murder case.

In his first public talk, BBC correspondent Daniel De Simone will offer previously unheard insights into his two-year investigation, how the sixth suspect was identified, his methods and findings, with responses by a panel of experts drawn from academia and politics. The discussion also allows for an exploration of the potential of contemporary investigative journalism practices in uncovering historical institutional failings and intervening in structural racial inequalities.

Meet our speakers and chair

Daniel De Simone (@DdesimoneDaniel) is a correspondent for BBC News, where he researches stories involving crime, injustice, and violent extremism. Recent investigations include the murder of Stephen Lawrence and an abusive MI5 agent. He was educated at LSE.

Ann-Marie Cousins is Lead Member for Community Safety and Enforcement at the Royal Borough of Greenwich. In this role her focus is on encouraging greater community engagement and enforcement for the safety of all communities. In May 2018 she became a Councillor for Abbey Wood. In the 1990s she became Secretary of the Bexley African Caribbean Association and the SE Membership Secretary of the Anti-Racist Alliance, being part of efforts to create a movement against racist murders.

Clive Nwonka (@CJNwonka) is Associate Professor in Film, Culture and Society at UCL Institute for Advanced Studies, and a Faculty Associate of the UCL Sarah Parker Redmond Centre for the Study of Racism and Racialisation. He is also Visiting Senior Fellow at LSE's International Inequalities Institute.

Shakuntala Banaji is Professor of Media, Culture and Social Change in the Department of Media and Communications at LSE, where she serves as Programme Director for the MSc Media, Communication and Development. Professor Banaji lectures on international media, politics and audiences with recent books including Youth Active Citizenship in Europe with Sam Mejias and Social Media and Hate with Ram Bhat. 

More about this event

This event will be available to watch on LSE Live. LSE Live is the new home for our live streams, allowing you to tune in and join the global debate at LSE, wherever you are in the world. If you can't attend live, a video will be made available shortly afterwards on LSE's YouTube channel.

The LSE International Inequalities Institute (@LSEInequalities) brings together experts from many of the School's departments and centres to lead cutting-edge research focused on understanding why inequalities are escalating in numerous arenas across the world, and to develop critical tools to address these challenges.

Hashtag for this event: #LSEIII

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A podcast of this event is available to download from The sixth suspect: Stephen Lawrence, investigative journalism and racial inequality. 

A video of this event is available to watch at The sixth suspect: Stephen Lawrence, investigative journalism and racial inequality. 

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