Teen Acquitted in Boy’s Death After Witness Lies
A judge ordered the acquittal of a teenager charged with murdering a 10-year-old boy after the prosecution’s star witness admitted lying.
The defendant, 17, was one of four youths charged in the November 2000 killing of Damilola Taylor.
Damilola had recently emigrated with his family from Nigeria so his sister could be treated for epilepsy.
Prosecutors say four boys slashed his thigh with a broken bottle and jammed a marble down his throat.
After the killing, a teenager told police she had seen the attack. But she admitted during trial that she lied to detectives about some details.
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