Four teenagers were yesterday charged with the murder of the 10-year-old schoolboy, Damilola Taylor, who bled to death in Peckham, south-east London, in November last year.
The four boys, one aged 14, two aged 15 and one aged 16, were arrested by Metropolitan police officers in London early yesterday following advice from the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS). The four had been interviewed by police on previous occasions and a file naming them was given to the CPS earlier this month to consider whether there was enough evidence to lead to a prosecution.
After the four were questioned at separate police stations in south London, Detective Chief Inspector Trevor Shepherd said one of the boys charged was of "African origin", one was of "mixed race" and the two others were of Mediterranean origin.
Mr Shepherd also reminded the media of its responsibility not to publish any details leading to their identification.
Damilola Taylor was stabbed in the left leg on his way home from an after-school computer class in Peckham and he bled to death in the stairwell of flats close to his home.
His murder provoked outrage and an intense police investigation to find his killers, during which 14 youths and one adult were questioned about the killing.
Mr and Mrs Taylor's solicitor, Mr Neil O'May, said they were relieved that someone had been charged with their son's murder.
"The last six months have been an extremely anxious time for them," Mr O'May said. "They trust the courts now to ensure that justice is done."