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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
National

Stephen Lawrence murder suspect Jamie Acourt admits heading up £4million drugs plot

Jamie Acourt, 42, from Eltham, south-east London, pleaded guilty at Kingston Crown Court

A man who was suspected in the racist murder of Stephen Lawrence in 1993 has pleaded guilty to heading up a £4million drugs plot.

Jamie Acourt, 42, from Eltham, south-east London, pleaded guilty at Kingston Crown Court on Thursday over the two-year conspiracy to supply cannabis resin.

His 43-year-old brother Neil Acourt has already been jailed for more than six years over the scheme, but Jamie had fled to Spain where was living under the alias "Simon Alfonzo" until his arrest in May.

He was arrested by armed officers after leaving a gym in Barcelona following a joint NCA, Met Police and Spanish National Police operation.

Acourt after his arrest in May (Getty Images)

Police apprehended him near the Metropolitan Sagrada Familia Gym on a European Arrest Warrant.

Both he and his brother were previously arrested after the murder of 18-year-old Mr Lawrence in Eltham in 1993 but have always denied involvement.

A total of six youths are suspected to have taken part in the murder.

In 2012, Gary Dobson and David Norris were convicted of the murder and were jailed for life.

Jamie Acourt previously denied the charge against him, but changed his plea following the end of the prosecution's case opening.

Acourt, currently of no fixed address, is due to be sentenced on Friday December 7.

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