The Spectator has been referred to attorney general Dominic Grieve for possible contempt of court over an article about the Stephen Lawrence murder trial.

The article, by columnist Rod Liddle, was published in the current edition of the magazine. Mr Justice Treacy, the judge in the case, asked the jury whether they had read the edition and when all answered no, instructed them not to.

Treacy also warned the press not to republish the piece or any part of it.

The attorney general's office said that he would look in to the case as and when a referral was received.

The Spectator declined to comment.

The trial of Gary Dobson and David Norris, who deny murdering Stephen Lawrence in 1993, continues.

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