UK: Brothers cleared of schoolboy's murder

Two teenaged brothers were cleared at the Old Bailey today of the murder of schoolboy Damilola Taylor.

They were also cleared of assault with intent to rob but the jury was discharged after failing to agree verdicts on manslaughter charges.

The case was adjourned until Thursday to give prosecutors time to consider whether to press for a retrial on the manslaughter charges.

Yesterday they found convicted robber Hassan Jihad, 20, not guilty of murder and other charges.

Damilola bled to death in a stairwell at the North Peckham Estate, south London, after being stabbed with a broken bottle in November 2000.

The prosecution claimed he was attacked after an attempt to rob him went wrong.

Four other youths, all aged under 18, were cleared of murdering Damilola following a trial in 2002.