Who Killed Damilola Taylor? John Boyega Opens up About School Friend's Death at Only 10 Years Old

John Boyega has opened up about one of the most painful experiences of his childhood: the death of his school friend Damilola Taylor, who was fatally stabbed in South London at just 10 years old. The 'Star Wars' actor had last seen Damilola just hours before his death, making his involvement in the documentary particularly personal.

More than two decades later, Boyega has revisited his memories of the tragedy in the new BBC Two documentary 'Damilola: The Untold Story', reflecting on how the killing affected his childhood, his ambitions and the way he viewed violence.

Who Killed Damilola Taylor?

Damilola was killed on 27 November 2000, after being stabbed in the thigh with a broken bottle as he made his way home from an after-school club at Peckham Library. He managed to reach a stairwell on the North Peckham estate before collapsing. He subsequently died from blood loss.

The case became one of Britain's most high-profile child murder investigations, but it took almost six years and three trials before convictions were secured. Danny and Ricky Preddie, brothers who were 12 and 13 at the time, were convicted of manslaughter at a 2006 retrial after previously being acquitted of murder. They had previously been acquitted of murder, while another defendant, Hassan Jihad, was cleared of the charges against him.

The investigation was also affected by major forensic failures. Blood and fibre evidence that was later used to support the case against the Preddie brothers had initially been missed, contributing to the lengthy investigation and subsequent trials.

The brothers were sentenced to eight years in youth custody and later lost appeals against their convictions and sentences.

John Boyega Remembers His Childhood Friend

For Boyega, however, Damilola was more than the victim at the centre of a notorious criminal case. He remembered him as an energetic and charismatic child who had moved to London from Nigeria only months before his death. Boyega has previously described how quickly Damilola made an impression on the children around him.

In the new documentary, Boyega admits that returning to those memories was emotionally difficult. 'I feel a bit nervous,' he says at the beginning of the film, explaining that he had not revisited the experience in such detail for a long time. The actor has previously said that the experience was life-changing and influenced his determination to pursue his ambitions.

Damilola's Death Helped Shape Boyega's Future

Boyega's connection to Damilola has remained important throughout his career. After the tragedy, he received a scholarship to Theatre Peckham, an opportunity that helped him begin developing his acting career. He has said that Damilola's death made him realise how quickly life could change and encouraged him to pursue his own ambitions.

The new documentary explores that connection while also examining the environment surrounding Damilola's death, including youth violence, bullying and the challenges faced by children growing up in Peckham. Boyega was involved in shaping the film and chose to include his sister Grace, who had a particularly close friendship with Damilola. Grace was also among the people who saw him shortly before his death.

'Damilola: The Untold Story'

The documentary does not simply revisit the criminal investigation. It looks at Damilola's life, his final months and the wider circumstances surrounding youth violence in the community.

The documentary also features testimony from people connected to Damilola's story, including childhood friends and former Metropolitan Police officer Leroy Logan. 'The Untold Story' aims to keep Damilola's memory at the centre of the story rather than defining him solely by the circumstances of his death.

'Damilola: The Untold Story' is scheduled to air on BBC Two on 5 October 2026, at 9pm, with the programme also expected to become available on BBC iPlayer following broadcast. For Boyega, speaking about Damilola more than 25 years later is ultimately about remembering the child he knew and considering how one devastating event helped shape the person he became.