9-Jan-2012 - Lawrence friend welcomes verdicts

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9 January 2012 Last updated at 09:03 GMT Stephen Lawrence friend welcomes 'partial victory' The best friend of stabbed teenager Stephen Lawrence has told the BBC "it was all worth it" following the conviction of two men for murder. Duwayne Brooks suffered post-traumatic stress disorder and a breakdown following the killing in April 1993. Last week Gary Dobson, 36, and NFL JERSEYS David Norris, 35, were jailed for life. Mr Brooks saw his 18-year-old friend attacked by a group of white men who had shouted racial abuse at them in Eltham, south-east London. He told Radio 4's Today programme: "For 18 years I have endured harassment and victimisation and feeling blame for the private prosecution failing, being brutalised and having false charges brought against me." He added: "To see two members of the gang convicted, for me it was all worth it." Mr Brooks, 37, said it was a "partial victory" but he praised the police for bringing the two men to justice. "Those names have been an open secret for 18 years. We have known for 18 years the names of those who took part in the attack on Stephen Lawrence and to see two of those go down was worth the struggle." 'Tremendous job' Mr Brooks, who is now a Liberal Democrat councillor in Lewisham, said of the police: "They have done a tremendous job, the second investigation, they've done a tremendous job in bringing those two to justice. "Yes, we would like all six to be brought to justice but at this moment in time they have done a tremendous job and they should be commended for the work and effort." But he added: "It's going to be very difficult to bring any charges against the other four involved." He went on to say that it had been a mistake to bring the original private prosecution in 1995. "I was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder in a serious way. "I blamed myself and other people blamed me, which nfl headset was worse - the headlines said the main witness changed his statement. That was never the case but nobody took the time to investigate what was happening with Duwayne Brooks." Mr Brooks was repeatedly asked about his relationship with the Lawrence family, who he fell out with many years ago. He sidestepped the question and replied: "If it was not for the Lawrence family and myself we would not have justice today and we would not be giving hope to other families."

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