Damilola killers get eight years

Two brothers have been jailed for killing schoolboy Damilola Taylor nearly six years ago.

Danny and Ricky Preddie, aged 18 and 19, from Peckham, south London, were sentenced to eight years' youth custody at the Old Bailey on Monday.

They had been convicted of manslaughter in August. During a previous trial in April, alongside another defendant Hassan Jihad, 20, they had been cleared of murder and assault with attempt to rob.

However, the jury could not agree on the manslaughter charge and another trial was ordered.

Mr Jihad was cleared of all charges.

Commenting on the verdict, Damilola's father, Richard, said: "We question whether these sentences will act as an appropriate deterrent to other potential criminals."

Damilola died after being found bleeding from a wound in his leg in a stairwell near his home in Peckham in November 2000. It appeared that he had been stabbed in the thigh with a broken bottle.

The schoolboy had only moved to Britain with his family from Nigeria a few months before the attack.

The Preddie brothers had been arrested a few days after the attack, but were released without charge. Four other youths stood trial for his killing, but were cleared in 2002.

The Preddie brothers were re-arrested last year, following the discovery of blood and fibres from Damilola were found on their clothes.

Commenting on the decision, Detective Superintendent Nick Ephgrave said: "Today marks the end of a long and difficult journey for Richard and Gloria Taylor and their search for the truth. It is also good news for the people of Peckham, where the spectre of Damilola's killers has hung around them for several years.

"It is also a good day for the team, some of whom have spent six years on this case. For all these people, justice has been done."

(KMcA/SP)