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What is a Nigerian Life Worth? - The Damilola Story
All: The British have now put the whopping price of US$14,335 on the life of Damilola Taylor, the the young boy who bled to death on November 26, 2000, after being stabbed on the leg on his way home from a computer class in Peckham, South London.
It just goes to show that if you place no value on the lives of your own people, foreigners will not either. AllAfrica
___________________ The Ikenga Shall Never Fall Again
You have summed it up well. Asking Obasanjo to fight for the human rights of Nigerians abroad is like asking Idi Amin to defend the human rights of Ugandans abroad. When you are a human butcher at home, you cannot be a human rights crusader abroad. It is as simple as that. How much money did Obasanjo pay to the families of the people he slaughtered in Odi? I am sure it is less than 0.00001 kobo per family. You do the math.
___________________ Biafra, by any means necessary!
You guy just hit the nail on the head, The British are even generous to be even offering that much. how about all the people that are been butchered by Obusonjo their family did not even get that much. Do any of you think that the families in Odi and Chuba village got a cent from Obasanjo. At least the British did apologize to the family of Demilola. But Obusonjo refused to even apologize for the people he has butchered.
How can any foreign governement attach any importance to life of any Nigerian when Nigeria is busy butchering their own people every day. Like Vitalis said asking Obasanjo to fight for human rights of Nigerians abroad is like asking Idi Amin to fight for the human rights of Ugandans abroard. Both killer more of their own citizen than any foreign country can ever match.
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Obasanjo is busy abusing Nigerian, he doesn't have time to care about what happen to Nigeria citizen. I wish it was Obasanjo child or grand child was mascared then he will know how some of this families feels.
___________________ Long live Arewa Republic Posts: 65 | From: Baton Rouge, Louisiana | Registered: Mar 2001
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Shocked, disappointed or outraged none of the above. There is nothing new with the Bristish government continous asessment of Nigerian life as less worthy over their own. That's patriotism folks. What more do we expect from a Nigerian President with an IQ of gun barrel, a cerebral assassin who enjoys the humiliation and endless butchery of his own people and finds it damn hard to simply say the magic word---sorry.It shows how limited Obasanjo is and his perception about One Nigeria. Damn Biafrans, now you wonder who is a Patriot in that goddamned country called Nigeria? A President who consumately practices a politics of exclusion with cruelty, a tribal monster by faith. You damn right the British government is not liable,it was a criminal act by a private citizen compared to Obasanjo's homocidal act against the people he's sworn to protect. That's gross folks, tufiakwa. The British act of kindness should be applauded and a 101 lesson to Obasanjo that government does have a philistine responsibility for his people.
Hail Biafra
Posts: 1679 | From: Minnesota USA | Registered: Mar 2001
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Thanks for updating this thread. Now, the last two of the British rascals have been acquitted of murder. I wonder what would have happened if the victim had been British and the culprits were BiafraNigerians and the whole trial were conducted in BiafraNigeria. We would have been inaundated with British threats of dire consequences for Nigeria if justice was not served. Clearly, Obasanjo would have summoned every colonized instinct in him to ensure that the BiafraNigerians were hanged for killing a white boy.
Damilola Taylor died from a leg wound on a stairwell in Peckham A third Damilola Taylor trial is being considered after two brothers were acquitted of murdering the 10-year-old. The pair, aged 17 and 18, were also cleared of assaulting the schoolboy who bled to death from a leg wound in Peckham, south London, in 2000.
Jurors were discharged after failing to reach verdicts on manslaughter charges.
Police are understood to be meeting the Director of Public Prosecutions Ken Macdonald QC on Wednesday to decide on a retrial on the manslaughter charges.
On Monday, a third defendant Hassan Jihad, 20, from Peckham, was cleared of any involvement in Damilola's death.
It is the second trial Damilola's parents, Gloria and Richard, have sat through and they were said to be "deeply distressed and profoundly disappointed" after the jury was discharged.
Mr and Mrs Taylor have attended court assiduously, going through the pain of a second major trial
Judge Mr Justice Leveson
Blood spots "missed"
In 2002 four other youths aged under 18 were cleared of killing the schoolboy, who came to England from Nigeria just three months before his death.
This time prosecutors believed they had a strong forensic case against the new suspects, who were accused of stabbing Damilola with a broken bottle after trying to rob him.
But there were no eyewitnesses and jurors heard conflicting evidence from experts at the trial.
The defence argued that Damilola might not have been attacked at all and could have injured himself by falling over on a piece of broken glass.
Two spots of Damilola's blood were found on a sweatshirt and a trainer linked to the two brothers but the defence disputed whether the clothes had been worn by them.
The jury struggled to reach a verdict, at first telling the judge they were deadlocked.
Hassan Jihad was cleared of all three charges on Monday
But when Mr Justice Leveson asked if this meant they could not agree on verdicts, one juror indicated it did not.
They were sent out to consider whether there was any point trying to reach a majority verdict, returning minutes later to clear the youths of murder and assault with intent to rob.
But they could not reach a majority verdict on the manslaughter charge.
As the jury was dismissed, the judge Mr Justice Leveson paid tribute to the Taylor family.
He said: "Mr and Mrs Taylor have attended court assiduously, going through the pain of a second major trial.
A beautiful life was taken in a violent and senseless way
Taylor family lawyer Neil O'May
Family's shock at outcome
"However it occurred, in whatever circumstances, they have my deepest sympathy."
The mother of the two brothers collapsed and wept in court as her sons were cleared of murder.
The Taylor family's lawyer Neil O'May said: "The whole family are deeply distressed and profoundly disappointed that the jury today could not decide on who killed their son Damilola.
"This trial has been a traumatic time for them because they have had to hear yet again details of how their son died so tragically."
He added: "Damilola was only 10 when he was killed. A beautiful life was taken in a violent and senseless way."
He said Mr and Mrs Taylor were praying that those involved would be brought to justice swiftly.
quote:Damilola family shock at verdicts
Damilola's parents Gloria and Richard still hope justice will be done Damilola Taylor's parents were said to be in shock after two men were cleared of killing their son. Solicitor Neil O'May said the trial was a traumatic time for them because they had to hear yet again the details of their son's tragic death.
In 2002, four other youths aged under 18 were cleared of killing the schoolboy in Peckham, south London.
Mr O'May said the family was "deeply distressed and profoundly disappointed" by the outcome of the second trial.
"...Hearing how your son was murdered, in their eyes, once was distressing in the extreme, twice is enormously distressing, and they at the moment are in shock and they'll take some time really to recover from today's events," he said.
Speaking on behalf of Damilola's family outside the Old Bailey after the trial, Mr O'May said: "A beautiful life was taken in a violent and senseless way".
I think that (the Taylor family) have been so admirable, the dignity with which they've conducted themselves
Harriett Harman MP
He said Mr and Mrs Taylor had not lost hope their son's killers would one day be caught and were praying those involved will be brought to justice swiftly.
Fight goes on
Harriet Harman, MP for Camberwell and Peckham where Damilola was killed, insisted the search for justice must go on.
"Everybody in the local community will be bitterly disappointed that no-one has yet been brought to justice for killing Damilola Taylor," she said.
She described the Taylors as "very family-orientated people" for whom Damilola's death had been an "absolutely shattering and terrible grief for them".
"But I think that they've been so admirable, the dignity with which they've conducted themselves," she told BBC News.
Bola Ogun, the chair of the board of governors of Oliver Goldsmith School, which Damilola had attended, said their thoughts were with the Taylor family.
"Everybody today will be thinking about the family, and our thoughts are with them as they have to digest this unsatisfactory news that yet again we haven't been able to find out what really happened and to bring people to justice for this horrendous crime."
Met Police Asst Commissioner Tarique Ghaffur said the police were disappointed the jury failed to reach verdicts on the remaining defendants.
"We wish to thank Richard and Gloria Taylor for their continued support through out this long and difficult trial," he said.
He added the police would be consulting the Crown Prosecution Service to consider a retrial.
___________________ The Ikenga Shall Never Fall Again Posts: 110 | Registered: Mar 2001
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The Preddie brothers were 12 and 13 at the time Two teenage brothers have been found guilty of killing schoolboy Damilola Taylor nearly six years ago. Danny and Rickie Preddie, aged 18 and 19, from Peckham, were convicted of manslaughter at the Old Bailey.
Damilola, 10, bled to death after being cut with a broken bottle in south London. The inquiry into his death has led to three trials and cost £16m.
His parents said it was a great comfort justice had finally been done. "We pray his gentle soul can now rest in peace".
The Preddie brothers will be sentenced at a later date.
You are corrupt... you are nothing
Rickie Preddie to the jury
Six-year trail to conviction
Nigerian-born Damilola was found bleeding from a leg wound in a stairwell on a housing estate in Peckham in November 2000.
It is thought he was attacked as he made his way home from an after-school club and was jabbed with a broken beer bottle in his thigh.
The long investigation included a much-criticised trial of four other youths in 2002 - all of whom were cleared.
Earlier this year the Preddie brothers and a third defendant, Hassan Jihad, 20, went on trial for murder after new forensic evidence was found, apparently missed during the first investigation.
I am dismayed that the evidence was not found sooner
Commander Dave Johnston
Damilola blood spots 'missed'
Mr Jihad was cleared of all charges, the Preddies were cleared of murder and assault but the jury failed to reach verdicts on the manslaughter charge.
Damilola's parents Gloria and Richard Taylor, who have sat through all three trials, watched calmly as jurors on Wednesday found the Preddies guilty of manslaughter.
But as the verdicts were read out, Rickie Preddie started shouting at the jury: "You are corrupt. You are nothing."
He was eventually taken out of court on the order of the judge.
The brothers, 12 and 13 at the time, were arrested a few days after Damilola was killed but were released without charge.
One was being monitored by the probation service and the other was on bail and detained at a children's home.
Damilola's parents have sat through three trials
They were re-arrested last year when the blood and fibres from Damilola were found on their clothing.
The jury heard they had convictions for robbery, some at knifepoint, and witnesses claimed the brothers had confessed to the killing.
A friend of Damilola, who cannot be named for legal reasons, told police he thought Danny Preddie may have come off worse in a fight with Damilola, who had broken his gold chain.
It is thought Damilola was surrounded by a gang of youths in Blakes Road, Peckham, and stabbed in his left thigh.
By the time he limped along the road and up two flights of a filthy stairwell, he was near death.
Commander Dave Johnston, of the Metropolitan Police, said the case had sent "shockwaves throughout London and beyond" and paid tribute to the courage and dignity of the Taylors.
It is a great comfort that justice has finally been done for Damilola
Richard Taylor
He defended the estimated £16m cost of all three trials saying: "We believe that the money is well spent to bring justice in this very important case."
On the subject of the missed forensic evidence he added: "I am dismayed that the evidence was not found sooner and of course that will be a matter of ongoing investigation."
Lawyer Tony Connell, of the Crown Prosecution Service, also paid tribute to the Taylor family. He said: "They have borne the dreadful suffering since the death of this fine young man with immense strength and we have all been grateful for their support throughout this case."
Speaking outside court, Damilola's father Richard said: "Nobody can ever return our son to us, but it is a great comfort that justice has finally been done for Damilola.
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If the killers were white skinned caucasians, then surely they would have been, in the long run, labelled as racists. However, as the killers are as black as their killed victim, the whole trial is free from the racist card.
I am particularly elated at the enormous costs of the three trials (16 Million British Pounds), payed by british tax payers, to prove the point, that every society is responsible for its own criminals.
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