Norris bailed on theft charge

ONE OF the five men connected to the investigation into the murder of the black London student Stephen Lawrence appeared in court yesterday charged with burglary.

David Norris, 22, of Chislehurst, Kent, was granted conditional bail by magistrates at Sevenoaks, Kent. He is due to appear again in court on 25 May.

Mr Norris is charged with stealing 32 cases of empty soda siphons worth pounds 224 from a wholesale drinks firm in Swnley, Kent, early on Monday. He was given bail on the condition that he lives at his home address, reports to his local police station every Saturday and abides by a 9pm-6am curfew .

Mr Norris was arrested in the early hours of Monday with Jamie Acourt, who has also been linked to the investigation into Stephen Lawrence's death in 1993 at a bus stop in Eltham, south-east London. Mr Acourt, also 22, from Greenwich, south-east London, was released onbail on Monday after being questioned at Gravesend police station in Kent.

A third man, Daniel Caetano, 23, who was not a suspect in the Lawrence case, was also charged with burglary and freed on bail.

Mr Caetano and Mr Acourt are also due to appear in court on 25 May.