'Prove it taunts' of Damilola boy

One of the teenagers accused of murdering Damilola Taylor taunted police officers by replying "prove it" every time they put an allegation to him, the Old Bailey heard today.

Boy A, who cannot be named for legal reasons, said "prove it" 10 times. In reply to other questions he said "no comment".

The court heard he was arrested with other youths four weeks after the 10-year-old was stabbed and bled to death in Peckham 15 months ago.

Boy A, who is now 16, had claimed he had spent the day at his "godsister's home" in another south London borough. But officers told him that workers at a care home had seen him near the murder scene within an hour of the stabbing.

"Prove I was there," he replied. "Prove I was there that day. Can you prove I was there at the death?"

At one stage the mother of Boy A and his brother Boy B who is also 16, intervened in the interview to say: "I know my sons, my sons ain't no killers."

The brothers shouted obscenities and threats from their police cell and were heard apparently making up an alibi, the court was told.

The brothers and a 15-year-old deny murder, manslaughter and assault with intent to rob. A 17-year- old was cleared yesterday after the judge threw out the evidence of a key witness. The case continues.