Damilola: new breakthrough

Police hunting the killers of Damilola Taylor expect a breakthrough which could lead to a fresh prosecution.

Evening Standard can reveal that raids have taken place at addresses in south London which have given detectives new hope of making arrests.

A team of detectives have also gone back to every piece of evidence in the case.

Damilola, 10, bled to death on a stairwell on the North Peckham estate after being stabbed on his way home from school in November 2000. Four boys aged between 14 and 17 were tried for his murder in 2002 but the prosecution case collapsed.

Detectives are now concentrating on applying new DNA techniques as well as seeking to flush out witnesses who could break the conspiracy of silence which has surrounded the case.

A Scotland Yard source said that officers in renewed searches around the murder scene "took these places apart," adding: "Officers are determined to solve this case. We are confident we will get a result, it is only a matter of time."

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