Cast of TV drama detailing Stephen Lawrence murder probe is shown for first time 

The cast of a TV drama about the Stephen Lawrence murder investigation has been shown in character for the first time.

The 18-year-old Londoner was killed in a racist attack in 1993 but it was not until 2012 that two men were convicted of his murder after a campaign for justice by his parents Doreen and Neville.

New pictures from the three-part series Stephen show actors Stephen Patten and Rob Witcomb as Gary Dobson and David Norris, who were found guilty after a DNA breakthrough and sent to prison. 

The cast of a TV drama about the Stephen Lawrence murder investigation has been shown in character for the first time. Pictured: Sharlene Whyte as Doreen Lawrence (left), Jorden Myrie as Stuart Lawrence (middle) and Hugh Quarshie as Neville Lawrence (right)

The family: Stuart Lawrence (left), Doreen Lawrence (middle) and Neville Lawrence (right)

Stephen’s mother, now Baroness Lawrence, is played by Sharlene Whyte and his father by Hugh Quarshie.

Both actors said they did not meet the Lawrences while researching the roles as they felt it would be unfair to make them relive the case again. ‘I was trying to keep a respectful space,’ Miss Whyte added.

Set in 2006 and due on ITV later this month, the drama tells the story of how detective chief inspector Clive Driscoll, played by Steve Coogan, led the probe that finally secured the convictions.

It also stars Sian Brooke as Met Police chief Cressida Dick – acting deputy commissioner at the time of the verdict – and Jorden Myrie as Stephen’s brother Stuart.

The senior officer: Cressida Dick, left, and as played by Sian Brooke

The detective: Clive Driscoll, left, and Steve Coogan, who plays him

The drama is a sequel to The Murder Of Stephen Lawrence, which was screened in 1999.

Actor Quarshie said he spoke to Neville Lawrence ‘the first time around’.

He added: ‘I was very aware of the fact that I don’t sound anything like him, I don’t look anything like him so it was important to grab his essence or some aspect of it.

‘This time around I felt that I had his impersonation in the bank, so to speak. But I had a feeling that it was going to be kind of intrusive to ask a man whose son had been murdered, ‘how did you feel about the second investigation?’.

The killers: David Norris, played by Rob Witcomb (left) and Gary Dobson, played by Stephen Patten (right)

‘And it was pretty clear that this script is less a reconstruction and more of a dramatic interpretation of events, so it was less about trying to imitate or impersonate Neville and more about trying to interpret the script.’

On not meeting Doreen, Miss Whyte added: ‘I didn’t feel that it was right that I go to her and start asking her questions and asking her to relive the experience yet again, because I can imagine how raw and traumatic that would be.

Also in the cast is Richie Campbell as Duwayne Brooks, who was a friend of Stephen’s and who was with him at the time he was murdered.