Damilola jury considers verdict

Damilola's death prompted a national outcry

The jury in the Damilola Taylor murder trial have been sent home for the night after a third day of deliberations.

The four men and seven women began to consider their verdict on Monday afternoon.

Judge Mr Justice Hooper has told them to try to reach a unanimous decision.

Damilola, 10, bled to death from a thigh wound, caused by a broken bottle, sustained on the North Peckham Estate, south London, on 27 November 2000.

Unless you are sure the defendant lent his phone, you could not convict

Mr Justice Hooper

Two 16-year-old brothers deny murder, manslaughter and assault with intent to rob.

Prosecution counsel claimed the schoolboy was attacked and stabbed by a group of boys using a broken bottle.

Defence barristers said the schoolboy injured himself when playing with a broken bottle.

The jury is made up of only 11 people after one juror was discharged.

Two other defendants have been cleared because the judge said there was insufficient evidence.

'Take your time'

Before sending the jury out, Mr Justice Hooper told jurors they must look at all the evidence in the case and must decide if alleged confessions in young offender institutions were true.

They must also examine evidence of mobile phone records which showed calls were made on the brothers' phones nearly two miles away at the time Damilola's body was found in Peckham, he said.

The judge told jurors: "Unless you are sure the defendant did not make that call, unless you are sure he lent his phone, you could not convict."

He told the jury to take all the time it needs and to put aside all other pressure such as public interest in the case or sympathy for Damilola's family.