Black In Britain - D reference file



--------------------------------------------------------------
Damilola Taylor (d November 2000) - The 10-year-old schoolboy, was found bleeding on a stairwell of a block of council flats in Peckham, south-east London. he had been stabbed with a broken bottle and dies in hospital. After a massive campaign a number of youths were arrested - including the Preddie Brothers and Hassan Jihad. They are however released without charge. Shades of the Stephen Lawrence bungled police murder investigation is seen in this case by campaigners including the now Archbishop of York Dr John Sentamu. Key forensic evidence was missed. In 2001 four youths are charged with murder and assault with intent to rob. Their trial begins in January 2002 and they all plead not guilty. A 14-year-old girl, tells the jury she saw the four smashing a glass beer bottle just before the attack but she is later discredited as an 'unreliable witness' and the case collapses. In January 2005 three youths are charged with Damilola's murder. They are Hassan Jihad, 19, from Peckham and two brothers aged 16 and 17 who are not named. They all deny the charges. The 2006 trial starts but an expert witness for the defence says Damilola's injury could have been caused by him falling on glass and not being stabbed. Jihad, is cleared by the jury of all charges and the two remaining defendants are cleared of murder, but the jurors fail to reach a verdict on the manslaughter charges. The Crown Prosecution Service says there will be a retrial on manslaughter charges for the two brothers. In August 2006 Danny and Ricky Preddie are found guilty of the manslaughter of Damilola Taylor after forensic evidence prove they were responsible. A Home Office inquiry into how key evidence was missed will be looked at.

--------------------------------------------------------------