Stephen Lawrence’s body will be returned to the UK from Jamaica 31 years after his tragic and racially motivated murder, his mother Doreen Lawrence has announced.

In a heartfelt statement issued through her lawyer, Baroness Lawrence revealed that the decision to repatriate her son’s remains comes after distressing images of his grave were circulated on social media following the exhumation of his body.

My family and I have been made aware of the recent images of my son’s grave that have been circulated on social media. Following Stephen’s passing, we made the decision to have him laid to rest in Jamaica, as we felt he would not be at peace in this country. After 31 years, we have decided as a family that we would like to bring Stephen home to be closer to us,” the statement read.

Baroness Lawrence expressed her family’s dismay at the handling of Stephen’s exhumation, highlighting the funeral home’s lack of regard for their feelings and privacy. “The images that are circulating were taken after the funeral home exhumed Stephen’s body. However, we would like to express our distress at the funeral home’s lack of regard for our feelings and privacy, as evidenced by the decision to leave Stephen’s grave open to the public, rather than closed off,” she stated.

She also criticized the individual who took and posted the images online, calling for respect and consideration for the family’s privacy. “We are disheartened by the individual who chose to take images and post them on social media without consideration for the potential impact on our family. We had hoped to have carried out this sensitive task privately, but due to unforeseen circumstances, this was not possible.”

The family has requested that the images be removed from all media platforms to prevent further distress. “We apologize for any distress caused by those who saw the images and kindly request that, out of respect for us and our privacy, these are removed from all media platforms,” the statement continued.

Baroness Lawrence concluded with a plea for privacy as the family navigates this emotionally charged period. “We kindly request that our privacy be respected during this time.”

Stephen Lawrence was brutally murdered in a racially motivated attack in Eltham, southeast London, on April 22, 1993. His death led to significant changes in the UK’s approach to race relations and the criminal justice system. Despite the convictions of two of his killers in 2012, the case remains a pivotal moment in the fight against racism and for justice in the UK.

The Lawrence family’s decision to bring Stephen’s body back to the UK underscores their enduring connection to him and their desire for him to rest close to home. The family hopes that this move will bring them some peace and that the public will respect their need for privacy during this sensitive time.