John Boyega reflects on the impact of Damilola Taylor's killing

Actor John Boyega has spoken about the personal impact of the 2000 killing of his childhood friend, Damilola Taylor. Speaking at a BAFTA event, Boyega reflected on the incident and the broader issue of youth violence in Peckham, south-east London.

Taylor was fatally stabbed at age 10 while returning from a library. Boyega, who was eight at the time, was one of the last people to see Taylor alive. The actor noted that he and his sister, Grace Boyega, grew up in an environment where they frequently came close to experiencing such violence.

Boyega expressed support for the upcoming BBC Two documentary, ‘Damilola: The Untold Story’, which examines the final 24 hours of Taylor's life. He stated that he hopes the film illustrates the long-term effects the killing had on the local community and the individuals involved.