John Boyega speaks on childhood friend Damilola Taylor's killing in new documentary

Actor John Boyega will discuss the killing of his childhood friend Damilola Taylor in an upcoming BBC documentary, sharing his perspective on the event for the first time. The programme, titled 'Damilola: The Untold Story', aims to highlight the impact of the 10-year-old's death on the Peckham community where he was fatally injured.

Damilola Taylor was fatally injured in a stairwell in Peckham on November 27, 2000, a short distance from his home. Boyega, who was friends with Damilola and among the last to see him alive, stated he was inspired to participate in the documentary by its creators and their intentions. He has previously watched other documentaries about Damilola but felt this was the appropriate moment to discuss the origins of the case and its effect on those in the area.

Boyega described the documentary as informative and a 'positive film', expressing a desire to support a project he believes will have a lasting beneficial influence. He added that the incident provided him with a significant perspective on life, acknowledging that while he has experienced negative influences, the process of creating the film allowed for reflection on growth.

The documentary will focus on the final 24 hours of Damilola's life and will feature contributions from other close friends and family members who will speak about how the killing affected them. Boyega indicated that the experiences surrounding Damilola's death have shaped his outlook, contributing to a sense of having lived more than his years due to exposure to difficult events.

'Damilola: The Untold Story' is scheduled to be broadcast on BBC Two and available on iPlayer on October 5.