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

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.

It took six years and three trials for brothers Danny and Ricky Preddie, who were 12 and 13 at the time of the stabbing, to be convicted of manslaughter.

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.

Damilola’s parents Richard and Gloria Taylor pictured in 2006

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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.

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

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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.