BAFTA TV Awards 2017: Damilola Taylor's father begs for end to London street killings in speech

Plea: Richard Taylor at the awards
Rex
Tom Powell15 May 2017
WEST END FINAL

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The father of Damilola Taylor begged for an end to the fatal stabbings on London’s streets as he collected a Bafta for a drama about the death of his 10-year-old son.

Damilola, Our Loved Boy was awarded the prize for best single drama at the British Academy Television Awards on Saturday evening.

Richard Taylor’s emotional acceptance speech came hours after an 18-year-old man died in Enfield after suffering stab wounds.

Scotland Yard said he was the 10th teenager to have been killed in the capital in 2017.

Richard Taylor (third from left) with the team behind Bafta-winning 'Damilola, Our Loved Boy'
Getty Images

Mr Taylor, who was joined by Damilola's brother Tunde and the production team, said: "I want to dedicate this to the memory of Damilola Taylor and Gloria, my late wife, and first and foremost send a strong appeal to young people on the street killing themselves.

"Parents are crying, others are crying, the surge of killing has gone up in the city of London, I beg you all to stop this unnecessary killing of innocent people.

"Young people, spread the message."

Tragic victim: Damilola Taylor was stabbed to death in Peckham

His impassioned plea came shortly after the teenager was killed and two others injured in the latest in a surge of knife attacks in the capital.

The 18-year-old was found suffering with stab wounds after police were called to reports of a mass brawl in Hertford Road, Enfield, north London at around 10.30pm on Saturday.

A 19-year-old man and 17-year-old boy were also found with knife injuries in nearby Palmers Lane.

All three victims were taken to hospital and the 18-year-old was pronounced dead at 11.41pm.

He is yet to be formally identified and a post-mortem examination will take place in due course.

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