Damilola witness 'lied to police'

Damilola Taylor bled to death in a stairwell

A teenage former heroin addict has admitted lying to detectives investigating the alleged murder of Damilola Taylor.

Three youths are accused of killing the 10-year-old boy in Peckham, south east London, in November 2000.

Damilola was left dying in a stairwell near his home after suffering a thigh wound caused by a broken bottle.

The witness, who cannot be named because he is aged 14, had claimed that one of the defendants had told him that he had been part of a gang that murdered Damilola.

'Racist'

He had said the conversation happened while both youths were being held at a secure unit in London.

But during cross examination at the Old Bailey in London, it emerged the boy had been lying about when the conversation had happened.

The BBC's crime correspondent Stephen Cape said the jury also heard extracts from a report describing the witness as "racist, aggressive" and someone who "took great delight in getting other inmates into trouble".

A 15-year-old and two brothers aged 16, all from south London, deny murder, manslaughter and assault with intent to rob.

The trial continues.