New witness comes forward in Damilola inquiry
A significant new witness has come forward in the Damilola Taylor inquiry.
Police believe may have witnessed a gang's fatal attack on the 10-year-old.
The new witness saw a confrontation between a group of young people and Damilola in Peckham, south London, a police source said.
"It's possible the witness saw an event that was the attack. Some form of interaction took place - what that was, we don't know. The group then ran off and Damilola was left on the ground," he said.
Officers believe this encounter could have been the incident which led to Damilola bleeding to death in a stairwell in the south London estate last November.
It is understood detectives are now seeking to corroborate the witness's account .
They are keen to trace a middle-aged Scottish man who spoke to the witness and "may or may not have seen the attack on Damilola".
They are unsure if the Scot is the same man who phoned Crimestoppers. That caller said he saw two or three people arguing with Damilola in Cronin Street at the junction with Commercial Way in Peckham.
Detectives close to the case also said they had been alarmed during the inquiry to uncover the extent of threats and violence suffered by children in the area.
It was also disclosed that "dozens and dozens" of different names for suspects had been passed on to police.
"We have moved forward significantly in the last week," said one senior detective.
"If someone was there, for goodness sake, come forward and tell us you weren't involved in the actual attack. If it was an accident, tell us. If it was unintentional, tell us. If you don't come forward we are going to have to assume you're part of the group and part of the crime."
