Close friend of murdered teenager Stephen Lawrence pulls out of the race to be London's next mayor

. Credit: .

A close friend of murdered teenager Stephen Lawrence has pulled out of the race to be London's next mayor.

Duwayne Brooks, who was with Stephen on the night he was stabbed to death 22 years ago, was hoping to be the Liberal Democrat candidate in 2016.

Brooks, a former Lewisham councillor, was named today as one of two Lib Dems on the party's shortlist along with London Assembly member Caroline Pidgeon.

Credit: PA

But the Liberal Democrats then revealed he was no longer taking part in the contest because of his role in a review of stop and search by police in Northamptonshire.

Brooks told ITV News his new commitment meant he was unable to take part in the mayoral hustings.

The decision means Caroline Pidgeon is on a 'shortlist' of one and almost guaranteed to win her party's nomination next month.