BBC News Online: UK

Father's grief at Damilola 'calamity'

Speaking publicly for the first time since the fatal stabbing nine days ago, Richard Taylor told of the family's profound sense of loss.

Mr Taylor, who travelled to England from Nigeria, urged people living in the Peckham area of London to help police catch Damilola's killers.

"Somebody somewhere knows something and for some reason is sheltering the perpetrators of this crime," he said at a news conference a day before what would have been his son's 11th birthday.

And he insisted that Damilola would still be alive had he remained in Nigeria, saying that British family values had been "allowed to go to the dogs".

He said his son had been picked on for being different.

Click here to see Damilola's likely route.

Describing his death as a "calamity", Mr Taylor warned that if the culprits were not caught quickly, the crime could be repeated.

Mr Taylor said his son had been improving himself even in the last hours of his life, spending time in a library rather than an amusement arcade.

"He invested his time learning about computers, made great friends and enjoyed playing football. The last acts of my son centred on improving himself.

"It will be a sad part of our lives that will remain with us forever. We will miss this lovely boy - my life can never be the same without Damilola."

He said his wife had wanted another son very much.

"He took 10 years to come and gave us only 10 years of happiness. But I'm sure his soul is in a happier place."

Mr Taylor spoke of his faith in "traditional British justice", but said Damilola would still be alive if he had stayed in Nigeria.

"Values have not dropped to the extent that schoolkids are attacked or bullied or murdered."

And he insisted that London had become a very different place since he lived there in the 1970s: "In Uxbridge in Middlesex, I never saw violence or a child attacked - it was peaceful.

"But presently the family value has been bastardised and allowed to go to the dogs."

Mr Taylor disclosed that he had not slept since hearing of his son's death last week.

Memorial service

More than 1,000 people are expected to attend a memorial service on Thursday organised by Damilola's parents to mark what would have been his 11th birthday.

The service will be held at 1300GMT at the Mountain of Fire and Miracle Ministry, the Nigerian Pentecostal church in Old Kent Road, Peckham, where the Taylor family worship.

Southwark Council is launching an appeal fund for a community centre in Damilola's memory - which has already received a £2m donation from Peckham carpet tycoon, Lord Harris.

Last movements

Mr Taylor visited the scene of the killing with Damilola's mother Gloria and other family members on Saturday.

About 80 police officers and civilian staff are investigating the death.

They have been contacted by hundreds of people and have interviewed more than 50 school children.

Metropolitan Police Detective Superintendent David Dillnutt has appealed for three youths - two black and one white - who were seen by a witness shortly after Damilola was found, to come forward.

The witness spoke to the youths, described as about 5ft tall and wearing dark clothing, because they wanted to go up the stairwell where Damilola was found, but were told to use the lift instead.

On Monday, police released closed-circuit television pictures showing Damilola's footsteps barely an hour before he was stabbed.

Police still do not know whether Damilola was stabbed by a knife or shards of a broken bottle found near the stairwell where he died.

Forensic tests are being carried out on the glass and on two knives found in Peckham.

Anyone with information about Damilola's death should ring the incident room on 020 8247 4567 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

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