Teenagers deny 10-year-old's murder

Damilola was attacked on his way back from a school computer class

LONDON, England -- Four teenagers accused of murdering a 10-year-old boy in an attack that shocked the world have pleaded not guilty at the start of their trial.

The boys -- one aged 14 and the others aged 16 -- also denied assault with intent to rob and manslaughter.

Nigerian-born Damilola Taylor was attacked on his way home from a computer class in Peckham, south London, on November 27, 2000.

He bled to death in a stairwell after he was stabbed in the leg.

Damilola's father's father Richard Taylor sat at the back of the Old Bailey court, in London, on Wednesday during the preliminaries to the trial.

The trial of the four defendants will not begin in earnest until next week due to legal discussions and will include special measures so they are not too intimidated.

The defendants will not have to appear in the dock in Court 12 of London's centuries-old Central Criminal Court.

Other special arrangements have been made for their appearance under the UK Lord Chief Justice's recommendations for trials of children and young persons.

The aim of the recommendations is that the trial process should not expose young defendants to avoidable intimidation, humiliation or distress.

The courtroom is expected to be arranged so that each teenager can sit at a table with a member of his family and his legal representatives.

Trial judge Mr Justice Hooper and the barristers are not expected to wear wigs for the hearing. But the judge is expected to stay in his usual position -- as it is not too high above the well of the court.

Moves to make legal proceedings involving child defendants less intimidating began after the trial of toddler James Bulger's 10-year-old killers was criticised by the European Court of Human Rights.