THE father of a man accused of murdering Stephen Lawrence has told the Old Bailey his son "is a nice kid" and not a racist.

Gary Dobson, aged 36, and 35-year-old David Norris, deny stabbing to death 18-year-old Mr Lawrence on April 22, 1993, in Well Hall Road, Eltham.

Today jurors heard evidence from Dobson's father, Stephen Dobson.

Prosecutor Mark Ellison spoke to him about video footage the court saw yesterday appearing to show a 17-year-old Dobson repeatedly referring to black people as n****rs.

Mr Ellison said: "Was there anything about the Gary that you know which fits the Gary on the tape?"

Stephen Dobson replied: "Definitely not."

Mr Ellison asked: "If you take '93, '94, had he at any stage shown any racism of the sort that comes out in the tape? "

"He isn't liked that", replied Dobson's dad.

Mr Ellison continued: "If he was like that it must be that he was like that when he wasn't with you.

"He was like how he was on the tape."

Stephen Dobson said: "I wouldn't know.

"That boy does not behave like that. He is a nice kid."

Dobson's father went on to tell the court that he remembered the front door closing and his son leaving the house after he went to bed at around 11pm.

Both of his parents have told the court that on the night of the killing they were having a curry with some friends at their home.

They claim their son was upstairs listening to music and playing on the computer.

Earlier his mum, Pauline Dobson, told the court she was certain her son was at home at the time of the incident, as she saw him making toast at around 10.30pm.

The prosecution claims that while his parents were with their guests, Dobson left the house and at around 10.30pm he and a group of friends, including Norris, attacked Mr Lawrence, stabbing him to death. Dobson admits leaving the house but claims this was at around 11pm, after his parents had gone to sleep and after the murder had taken place.

Dobson's barrister Tim Roberts asked his client's father: "Is there any doubt in your mind as to where your son was that night?

"Did you see him at any stage looking out of breath as though he had been running?"

Stephen Dobson replied "no" to both these questions.

The trial continues.