The notorious killers who murdered Stephen Lawrence in Eltham could have the chance to appeal their conviction, after a legal ruling on joint enterprise by UK Supreme Court judges.

In 2012 David Norris and Gary Dobson were jailed under joint enterprise for the racially motivated murder in 1993.

Mr Lawrence, 18, who wanted to be an architect, was stabbed to death by a gang of youths as he waited at a bus stop in Well Hall Road with friend Duwayne Brooks.

It took more than 18 years to bring two of Mr Lawrence's killers to justice, but now the pair may have the chance to appeal their life sentences.

A panel of Supreme Court justices concluded that the law on joint enterprise - which can result in people being convicted of assault or murder even if they did not strike the blow - had been wrongly interpreted by criminal trial judges over the past 30 years.

News Shopper: Gary Dobson, left, and David Norris are to face trial over the murder of Stephen Lawrence

Gary Dobson and David Norris were jailed for the murder of Stephen Lawrence.

Justices said prosecutors, judges and jurors had to take a different approach when dealing with defendants accused of being involved in joint enterprise crimes.

They said it was not right that someone should be guilty merely because they foresaw that a co-accused might commit a crime.

The panel said jurors should view "foresight" only as evidence to be taken into account, not as proof.

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Campaign group Jengba (Joint Enterprise Not Guilty by Association) hailed the ruling.

"This is a major turning point in British justice," said Jengba campaigner Deborah Madden.

"The joint enterprise rule has been used to get mass convictions without evidence.

"It has caused devastation for families."

She added: "We know of 650 people who we think will be affected by the ruling - and we don't know everyone."