Who was Damilola Taylor? BBC documentary 'sheds fresh light' on killing of London boy

Who was Damilola Taylor? BBC documentary 'sheds fresh light' on killing of London boy

Damilola: The Untold Story promises to shed ‘fresh light’ on the killing of ten-year-old Damilola Taylor
Damilola Taylor, 10, died in Peckham, south London
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A new documentary will explore the killing of ten-year-old Damilola Taylor, who was stabbed to death in London 26 years ago.

Damilola: The Untold Story, airs on BBC 2 tonight (Monday, October 5) and promises to shed “fresh light” on the boy’s death.

The documentary features new testimony, including from actor and childhood friend John Boyega, who was eight when Damilola died and was one of the last people to see him alive.

Damilola’s killing

Damilola was on his way home from the library when he was stabbed in the leg with a broken beer bottle and left to die in a stairwell in Peckham on November 27, 2000.

The Metropolitan Police said the investigation was hampered by a wall of silence from the local community in Peckham and a lack of experience in dealing with children in gangs.

File photo dated 9/8/2006 of Damilola Taylor's father Richard with his wife, Gloria, making a short statement outside the Old Bailey after the Preddie brothers - Ricky 19 and Danny 18 were convicted of his manslaughter. Campaigner Richard Taylor, whose son Damilola Taylor was murdered at the age of just 10, has died, his family have announced. The former Nigerian civil servant dedicated years to improving the lives of disadvantaged children in the wake of his son's tragic death in November 2000, and set up the Damilola Taylor Trust to campaign against knife crime Mr Taylor died on Saturday aged 75 following a long illness. Issue date: Saturday March 23, 2024. PA Photo. See PA story DEATH Taylor. Photo credit should read: Chris Young/PA Wire
Damilola’s parents Richard and Gloria Taylor pictured in 2006

Reactions to the stabbing

The shocking incident captured the nation’s attention, becoming one of London’s most high-profile killings.

Following his death, Damilola’s parents Richard and Gloria Taylor went on to establish the Damilola Taylor Trust, aimed at steering young people away from crime and funding places for inner city school students to study medicine.

Damilola’s brother, Tunde Taylor, a trustee of the trust set up in his brother’s name, spoke to the Standard on the 25th anniversary of his death last year.

“It doesn’t feel like 25 years since Damilola died,” he said. “I had a moment to reflect on it this morning - we just need to continue the work and build the legacy.

“We have first-hand experience of people who have benefitted from the trust and to have so many important people at today’s event is no mean feat.

“My daughters are aged three and one. One day, as their memory improves, I will show them Damilola’s picture and tell them his story which changed the nation.”

John Boyega Boyega was a childhood friend of Damilola Taylor (Ian West/PA)
John Boyega was a childhood friend of Damilola Taylor (Ian West/PA)

Star Wars star Boyega, 34, speaks about Damilola’s death for the first time in the documentary.

Discussing why he has decided to share his experience, he told the Standard: “I think it was important for people to see what had happened and the effects of that situation, and it was packaged together really, really well.

“I believe in the intention, I think this is quite a positive film, as well as it being informative, and I just wanted to support something that I felt like long-term would have a positive impact.”

Damilola: The Untold Story airs on BBC2 at 9pm tonight, and is also available to stream on BBC iPlayer.

Original source Who was Damilola Taylor? BBC documentary 'sheds fresh light' on killing of London boy

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