The BBC has released a new documentary on the murder of 10-year-old Damilola Taylor, which shocked the nation in November 2000. Titled Damilola: The Untold Story, it airs tonight (Monday, October 5) at 9pm on BBC Two and is also available on BBC iPlayer.
Damilola was fatally stabbed in the leg and left for dead while walking home from an after-school club in Peckham, London. It took six years and several trials to convict two brothers, who were aged 12 and 13 at the time.
New testimony from John Boyega
The documentary, made 26 years on, features previously unheard contributions from Damilola's childhood friends and family, including actor John Boyega. Boyega, known for Star Wars and Attack the Block, was one of the last people to see Damilola alive before he was killed near his home.
Filmmaker Alex Thomas directs the documentary, which also examines knife crime since 2000. The official synopsis reads: "Made 26 years after the murder of 10-year-old Damilola Taylor shocked Britain, this documentary returns to his story with new testimony that sheds fresh light on what happened to him."
Legacy and the Damilola Taylor Trust
After Damilola's killing, his family set up the Damilola Taylor Trust in 2001. The trust's website pays tribute: "He was a sensitive and exuberant boy who loved life and lit up the room with his infectious good humour and winning smile." It adds: "He enjoyed sport, particularly football, and was an avid Manchester United supporter." The trust aims "to restore the hope, optimism and self-esteem of young people in London."
Damilola: The Untold Story airs tonight at 9pm on BBC Two and streams on BBC iPlayer.
