FAMILY IN MOURNING
Dad of Damilola Taylor dies aged 75 after life spent campaigning to end knife crime following his son’s death aged 10
Damilola Taylor was left to bleed out on a Peckham estate stairwell
DAMILOLA Taylor's dad who spent his life campaigning to end knife crime following the death of his son has died.
Richard Taylor passed away this morning aged 75 after a battle with prostate cancer.
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Richard's son Damilola was 10 when he was killed on his way home from an after-school club at the local library in 2000.
He was ambushed and knifed in the leg with a broken bottle by two brothers, who were 12 and 13 at the time.
After his death, Richard set up the Damilola Taylor Trust in a bid to stop to knife crime and improve the lives of young people.
Richard was later awarded an OBE and worked alongside two former Prime Ministers.
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His family today said it is with "a heavy heart" that they announce his tragic death.
A statement read: "It is with a heavy heart that the family announce the death of our beloved father, grandfather and uncle, Mr Richard Adeyemi Taylor OBE, who sadly passed away in the early hours of Saturday March 23 at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Woolwich, after a prolonged battle with prostate cancer."
After he was attacked, Damilola managed to crawl to a stairwell on the council estate where he lived in Peckham, south London, but tragically bled to death.
The senseless attack 24 years ago happened just four months after he had moved to England with his family from Nigeria in hope of a better life.
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Six years later, Danny and Ricky Preddie were convicted of manslaughter.
The Preddie brothers were members of a gang known as the Young Peckham Boys, who were at the time terrorising the streets of south London.
killers walk free after case is thrown out in the drama Damilola, Our Loved Boy
Both had a history with crime at the time of the killing.
The jailing came after a series of police and forensic blunders and three Old Bailey trials costing £20million.
Damilola's death shocked the nation and became one of London's most high-profile killings.
In 2017, BBC drama Damilola, Our Loved Boy, was aired - telling the family's struggled for justice.
Damilola arrived in Britain with his mum Gloria, brother Tunde and elder sister Gbemi.
Richard previously spoke about how Damilola dreamed of becoming a doctor because he wanted to cure sister Gbemi’s epilepsy.
Devoted dad Richard stayed in Lagos for work when his family took the brave leap to come to the UK.
But he dashed over following his son's death.
What happened at trial after Damilola's death?
After Damilola's death, it took six years and three trials to identify and convict his killers.
In 2002, four boys went on trial at the Old Bailey charged with Damilola's murder.
But two of the boys were found not guilty and the other two were acquitted when it was ruled that a 14-year-old girl, who was the prosecution's key witness, was unreliable.
Speaking outside the Old Bailey after the case, the boy's parents, Richard and Gloria Taylor vowed to continue fighting for justice.
Ricky was charged with his younger brother Danny in 2005 when forensic evidence, missed at the time, revealed tiny blood spots and fibres.
The Preddie brothers were eventually convicted of manslaughter in 2006.
They were sentenced to eight years in youth custody but released in 2011 and 2010.
Richard was remembered by TV viewers at the time for collapsing in grief at his son's murder scene.
Damilola is buried next to his mum and Richard's wife Gloria, who died of a heart attack in 2008 aged 57.
Richard worked as an adviser to Gordon Brown and Boris Johnson.
In 2020, Richard told Johnson to “get a grip” on youth crime after two more boys were stabbed to death in the capital.
A 16-year-old lad died from knife wounds in the former PM's constituency just half an hour after another, aged 15, was killed in a separate incident.
At the time, Richard said he was "tired" of hearing about youngsters' lives being taken.
He said: "One of the murders of these boys happened in his own constituency, where violence is becoming rampant.
“I met Boris Johnson in November and pointed out youth groups were being forced to close down due to lack of funds.
“I am tired of hearing about more young lives being taken.”
Richard also campaigned alongside ex-England star Rio Ferdinand - who grew up on the same estate Damilola lived and died on.
The England ace made a direct appeal to children for information about the youngster’s death in 2000.
Rio’s TV appeal was the start of a long friendship with Damilola’s parents.
At his suggestion, they set up the Damilola Taylor Trust, which still runs today.
Its aim is to help children and young people who are vulnerable to gang and knife crime.
Tributes are now flooding in for the campaigner.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer posted on X: "Richard championed breaking down barriers to opportunity through the Damilola Taylor Trust, in honour of his son's memory.
"He will be remembered for his courage, determination and message of hope. My condolences to Richard's family and friends."
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Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said: "I am sorry to hear of the very sad passing of Richard Taylor OBE.
"He lived a life in total legacy to his son, Damilola, dedicating his time to giving young people a hopeful future through positive opportunities. May he rest in peace and power."
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