Duwayne Brooks
Duwayne Brooks (born 27 September 1974) is a Liberal Democrat politician in the United Kingdom and is a Councillor in the London Borough of Lewisham. He was the best friend of murdered black teenager Stephen Lawrence and was with him when he died.[1]
Early life
Born in Lewisham, London on 27 September 1974, Brooks grew up in Deptford and attended Blackheath Blue Coat Secondary School in Charlton. In 1991 he went to study Engineering at Woolwich College before moving on to Lewisham College a year later.[2]
Murder of Stephen Lawrence
Brooks, as a close friend, was with Stephen Lawrence when he was murdered on 22 April 1993. The aftermath of the murder is important in both British political and legal history. It led to an inquiry headed by Sir William Macpherson that concluded the Metropolitan Police Force was “institutionally racist” and heavily contributed to the creation and passing of the Criminal Justice Act 2003, which altered the Double jeopardy ruling.
Arrests and imprisonment
Brooks was arrested for his involvement in a scuffle during a race march on the British National Party headquarters in Welling days after the murder.[3]
In 1999 he was arrested and remanded, charged with the attempted rape of an 18-year-old woman.[4] The case was eventually dropped because of a lack of evidence.[5]
Political career
In February 2009, Brooks became a Councillor for the Liberal Democrats in the London Borough of Lewisham following a by-election in the Downham Ward [6][7]. Later that year he was elected onto the Safer Communities Board at the Local Government Group as Lead Member for the Liberal Democrats [8].
He was re-elected to the Downham Ward in May 2010[9] and also appointed as Community Cohesion and PREVENT Champion at the Local Government Group months later [8].
In autumn 2010, Brooks was named amongst the potential candidates[10] for the London mayoral election, 2012 but failed to get approved candidate status to stand as a GLA candidate.
References
- ^ Adams, Tim. "I just want to be free of Steve". 6 April 2003. The Guardian News. Retrieved 6 January 2011.
- ^ Brooks, Brooks, Steve and Me: My friendship with Stephen Lawrence, BrooksBooks, 2006
- ^ http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2079782/Stephen-Lawrence-trial-Gary-Dobson-David-Norris-guilty-murder.html | The Daily Mail; 4th January 2012
- ^ http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/1999/sep/17/lawrence.ukcrime | The Guardian; 17 September 1999
- ^ http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2079782/Stephen-Lawrence-trial-Gary-Dobson-David-Norris-guilty-murder.html | The Daily Mail; 4th January 2012
- ^ Bannerman, Lucy. "Duwayne Brooks, friend of Stephen Lawrence, goes into politics". 17 February 2009. The Times. Retrieved 6 January 2011.
- ^ "Downham Ward by-election results 19 February 2009". Lewisham.gov.uk. 2009-02-19. Retrieved 2011-01-06.
- ^ a b "LGA Safer and Stronger Communities Board Member Profile". Lga.gov.uk. Retrieved 2011-01-06.
- ^ "Downham Ward Election results 6 May 2010". Lewisham.gov.uk. 2010-05-06. Retrieved 2011-01-06.
- ^ "Stephen Lawrence friend may run for mayor of London", BBC News, London, 21 September 2010. Retrieved on 04-01-2011.