Put sympathy aside, judge tells Damilola jury

The jury trying two brothers for the murder of ten-year-old Damilola Taylor was told yesterday to put aside sympathy for his family and ignore loutish behaviour by the defendants.

Damilola's parents, Richard and Gloria Taylor, listened at the back of the Old Bailey as Mr Justice Hooper told the four women and seven men: "We all have huge sympathy for the Taylor family who have lost a much loved 10-year-old son.

"Sympathy for the family and sympathy for all those caught up in this must be put aside when you consider your verdicts."

The 16-year-old brothers deny murder, manslaughter and assault with intent to rob Damilola in November 2000.

The schoolboy bled to death on a stairwell on the North Peckham Estate, south London, from a thigh injury caused by a broken bottle.

The judge, at the closing stages of the three-month trial, said both brothers had relatively minor convictions for offences such as taking and driving away, but none for robbery, serious assault or having a weapon. They had given an alibi at one stage that involved one of them stealing and the other one snatching a mobile phone.

A youth told the court he had been accosted by the brothers who had demanded money from him. But the judge added: "You may think that the behaviour of these two defendants is deeply unattractive.

"I give you this strong clear and strong direction: their characters are not relevant at all. It does not help you decide these defendants' guilt."