Four charged over Damilola murder

Thirteen people have been questioned over the death of Damilola, above

LONDON, England -- British police investigating the killing of Nigerian schoolboy Damilola Taylor have charged four youths with his murder.

Damilola, aged 10, bled to death in Peckham, south east London, on November 27, last year.

The suspects, one aged 14, two aged 15 and one aged 16, will appear before magistrates at West London Youth Court on Wednesday, police said.

The boys were arrested this morning on the advice of Crown Prosecution Service lawyers and were taken into custody at separate police stations in south London.

One of the suspects is of African origin, one is of mixed race and two are of Mediterranean origin, but they cannot be named for legal reasons.

A police file naming the four suspects was presented to the CPS last month for them to consider whether there was a strong enough case for a prosecution.

The papers were considered by a treasury counsel - a senior barrister employed by the CPS - who recommends whether there is enough evidence to bring charges against suspects.

"Following advice from the Crown Prosecution Service detectives investigating the murder of Damilola Taylor arrested four juveniles in London this morning," a police spokeswoman told Reuters.

"The four have been taken into custody at various south London police stations in connection with the case."

She declined to identify the youths or make further comment.

Damilola was ambushed by a gang of teenagers as he crossed a housing estate in Peckham on his way home from a computer lesson.

He was stabbed in the leg and left to bleed to death in a stairwell on the estate.

Police have arrested and subsequently released at least a dozen people in connection with the murder.