In a landmark moment in English legal and social history, Gary Dobson and David Norris are found guilty of the murder of black teenager Stephen Lawrence in April 1993.
Dobson, 36 and Norris, 35, were convicted by a jury at the Old Bailey nearly 19 years after the murder.
The court had waited in total silence until the jury foreman answered “guilty” when asked if a verdict had been reached.
Stephen Lawrence‘s parents Doreen and Neville, sitting separately at the back of the court, remained composed and appeared to show little emotion, but both began to cry as the verdicts sunk in. Mr Lawrence covered his eyes and Mrs Lawrence was handed a handkerchief.
Doreen and Neville Lawrence appeared to show little emotion, but both began to cry as the verdicts sunk in.
Dobson and Norris, who were 17 and 16 at the time of the attack, both wore grey suits and stood with their hands behind their backs.
As he was led away from court, Dobson protested his innocence, saying: “You have condemned an innocent man here. I hope you can live with yourselves.”
His mother Pauline called out from the public gallery above: “He didn’t kill that man.”
The judge, Mr Justice Treacy, will deliver both men’s sentences on Wednesday.
Outside court, Stephen Lawrence’s mother Doreen said today was not a cause for celebration, adding: “How can I celebrate when my son lies buried?”
Stephen Lawrence was killed in a racist attack by a gang of young people in Eltham, south east London, in April 1993.
The jury panel, made up of eight men and four women, made its decision on the third day of deliberations.
Michael Mansfield QC, who represented Mr Lawrence’s parents at his inquest, said that they had shown “huge dignity and persistence” in their pursuit of justice.
“It is a component in changing the public perception of these cases. This is just another milestone for the family in a very long journey,” he added.
“It is a real tribute to the family that they have fought so long to bring about change.”
More from Channel 4 News: Lawrence murder trial - the forensic evidence
Following the verdict, one of the most senior Metropolitan Police officers, Acting Deputy Commissioner Cressida Dick, said it was “a matter of huge regret” that it took so long to convict anyone of the racist murder.
The police force faced criticism over conduct of various stages of the investigation. The first investigation into Lawrence’s death was thrown out after a public inquiry.
In response to the jury’s decision Duwayne Brooks, who was with Stephen Lawrence on the night of the attack, tweeted: Some JUSTICE at last. #stephenlawrence
Forensic scientists who were responsible for unearthing new evidence leading to the conviction said they were “hugely” proud. LGC forensic services said its work in securing fibres from clothing and blood fragments in the packaging had been “painstaking and meticulous”.
Steve Allen, managing director of LGC Forensics, said: “Persistence, meticulous science and innovation can help convict criminals years after they committed the crime.
“This case shows that the key to successful forensics is to assume nothing – which is all the more important in historic cases like the murder of Stephen Lawrence.”
A report by Sir William Macpherson in 1999 said the standard of command in the crucial first few hours after Mr Lawrence’s killing was “abysmal” and damned the Met Police for being institutionally racist.
Lawyers representing Mr Lawrence’s parents also alleged that some officers were influenced by the father of David Norris, whom they alleged was a former drugs baron.
The Macpherson report found that police failed to follow up reports of a red Astra car seen near the scene that night. It later transpired that three of the passengers had previous convictions for racist attacks.
We were criticised for the way in which the Met investigated in 1993. We’ve transformed the way we investigate homicide. Cressida Dick, Metropolitan Police
Anonymous informants identified a number of suspects in the wake of the killing, but there was a two-week delay before any arrests. The investigation was found to be “grossly understaffed”.
The report also criticised the fact that no officer gave Mr Lawrence first aid and the fact that Mr and Mrs Lawrence and Mr Lawrence’s friend Duwayne Brooks, who was with him when he was killed, were “inadequately, inappropriately and unprofessionally” treated.
At a later stage of the investigation, an officer named only as Sergeant XX, who was previously seen in a pub with David Norris’s father Clifford, was assigned to look after Mr Brooks when he was called to give evidence as part of the private prosecution.
Ms Dick said: “We were criticised for the way in which the Met investigated in 1993. We’ve transformed the way we do investigate homicide and I like to think that where we are now exemplifies how we’ve changed in terms of the way we investigate.
“This case, which as you know has taken 18 years to get to this stage, is a unique case, not just for the Met but I think in modern policing.”
'We have paid a price - a very heavy price'
It's clear the Stephen Lawrence murder investigation has been the biggest and most resourced inquiry in living memory outside of counter terrorism.
But with so many basic errors in 1993 original inquiry; on surveillance, on the delay of arrests, on the gathering of evidence, on leads which were never followed up, any new investigation faced a mountain to climb.
Read more from Home Affairs Correspondent Simon Israel