Boy killed Damilola 'because he was lippy'

A Third Division trainee footballer today told the Old Bailey of his shock when another youth "boasted" of killing Damilola Taylor.

The 18-year-old said: "He was boasting. He seemed happy for what he had done.

"He said the reason why he had killed him was because he was mouthy. He was getting too lippy." The witness said he asked the boy if he regretted it but the youth allegedly said he would do the same thing again.

The trainee footballer said the conversations with one of two 16-year-old brothers accused of killing Damilola took place when he was sent to Feltham young offenders' institution for robbery last year.

The youths and a 15-year-old boy deny murder, manslaughter and assault with intent to rob Damilola who bled to death after being stabbed at the North Peckham Estate, south London.