Four charged over Damilola death

Four youths have been charged with the murder of Damilola Taylor, above

LONDON, England -- Four teenage boys have been formally charged with the murder of Nigerian schoolboy Damilola Taylor.

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

On Thursday, the West London Youth Court was packed as the four youths -- one aged 14, two aged 15 and one aged 16 -- were remanded in secure local authority care.

Reuters reported that an official from the Nigerian High Commission was among observers.

The magistrates turned down applications for bail by two of the boys, aged 14 and 16 who were arrested on Wednesday and cannot be named for legal reasons.

Damilola was allegedly ambushed as he crossed a housing estate in Peckham on his way home from a computer lesson.

He was knifed in the leg and left to bled to death in a stairwell on the estate.

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