A LAWYER acting for Stephen Lawrence's family has been questioned over how evidence in the murder of their son was handled during court hearings in the 1990s.

Michael Mansfield QC appeared at the Old Bailey today where Gary Dobson, aged 36, and 35-year-old David Norris are on trial for the 1993 murder.

Both defendants claim clothing seized from their homes after the murder and garments from Mr Lawrence have been contaminated over the years.

Jurors heard Mr Mansfield had represented the family in a 1996 private prosecution at the Old Bailey, a 1997 inquest at Southwark Coroner's Court and a public inquiry in 1998.

But he denied handling any of the clothing seized from suspects in those hearings, saying police had been in control of them.

Mr Mansfield said: "I wouldn't do it myself because obviously there's a risk of contamination."

He said the first trial had not lasted long, adding: "From my recollection I don't remember any exhibits, save one and that was a weapon in a box."

Under cross-examination by Dobson's defence barrister Tim Roberts, he was asked about a transcript from the inquest in which Mr Mansfield had asked Dobson: "Do you recognise this jacket?"

Mr Mansfield replied: "I can't be specific because I might not have had anything in my hand at all."

He said that if the jacket had been held up, it would have still been in the windowed brown paper evidence bags used by police.

Dobson and Norris, both from south London, deny murder.

The trial continues.