Four boys face court over Damilola murder

Four teenage boys were due to appear in court today charged with the murder of Damilola Taylor.

The accused, one aged 14, two aged 15 and one aged 16, are accused of murdering the 10-year-old, who bled to death in Peckham, south east London, on November 27 last year.

They were due to appear before magistrates at West London Youth Court.

The boys were arrested yesterday on the advice of Crown Prosecution Service lawyers and were taken into custody at separate police stations in south London.

One of them is of African origin, one is of mixed race and two are of Mediterranean origin, but they cannot be named for legal reasons.

Last month Damilola’s father Richard renewed appeals for help six months after his son’s death.

The Nigerian-born youngster was on his way home from an after-school computer class when he was attacked.

He bled to death on a stairwell after he was stabbed near his home and was pronounced dead on arrival at King’s College Hospital in London.

Following the killing, a huge police operation was launched and 60 officers have been working on the case ever since.

CCTV footage was released showing the youngster on the day he died, wearing a silver-coloured coat.

Officers have since made repeated public appeals for information from local people.

Speaking outside New Scotland Yard yesterday, Detective Chief Inspector Trevor Shepherd said: ‘‘I would repeat my appeal to anyone who has any information to come forward.’’

He said Damilola’s parents Richard and Gloria had been kept informed of developments.