DAMILOLA Taylor’s dad who spent his life campaigning to end knife crime following the death of his son has died.
Richard Taylor passed away this morning aged 75 after a battle with prostate cancer.
Richard Taylor has died following a battle with prostate cancerRex
Getty Images – GettyDamilola Taylor was stabbed to death in 2000[/caption]
The Daily MirrorRichard spent years of his life trying to make streets safer[/caption]
The former Nigerian civil servant set up the Damilola Taylor Trust to campaign against knife crime after the horror in 2000.
He was later awarded an OBE for his work.
A statement issued on behalf of the family today said: “It is with a heavy heart that the family announce the death of our beloved father, grandfather and uncle, Mr Richard Adeyemi Taylor OBE, who sadly passed away in the early hours of Saturday March 23 at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Woolwich, after a prolonged battle with prostate cancer.”
Ten-year-old Damilola was killed on his way home from an after-school club at the local library.
He was ambushed and knifed in the leg with a broken bottle by two brothers, who were 12 and 13 at the time.
Damilola managed to crawl to a stairwell on the council estate where he lived in Peckham, south London, but tragically bled to death.
The senseless attack 24 years ago happened just four months after he had moved to England with his family from Nigeria in hope of a better life.
Six years later, Danny and Ricky Preddie were convicted of manslaughter.
The jailing came after a series of police and forensic blunders and three Old Bailey trials costing £20million.
Damilola arrived in Britain with his mum Gloria, brother Tunde and elder sister Gbemi.
Richard previously spoke about how Damilola dreamed of becoming a doctor because he wanted to cure sister Gbemi’s epilepsy.
Devoted dad Richard stayed in Lagos for work when his family took the brave leap to come to the UK.
But he dashed over following his son’s death.
Richard was remembered by TV viewers at the time for collapsing in grief at his son’s murder scene.
Damilola is buried next to his mum and Richard’s wife Gloria, who died in 2008 aged 57.
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