Damilola Murder Article, Group 2: Josefine, Sasja og Malene

1. Structure

Divide the article into sections (between 5 and 10 sections) and give each section a title. Write your titles like this: Introduction to murder case (p. 62, first column, line 5.12).

1. The killing of Damilola, a violent killer and child. (P. 62 - 63. Line 1 - 17)
2. The Cris life. (p. 63- 64. Line 18 - 17)
3. Trial, silence and hardcore 12 years old children. (P. 64- 65. Line 18 -29)
4. Drugs and up giving parents (P. 65. Line 30 - 76)
5. Camilla Batmanghelidjh: Violence and anger (P. 65- 66. Line 77 -50) 

2. Angle on the murder case: Social problem

Describe in your own words how the murder of Damilola is a symptom of a social problem in the United Kingdom.

The young gangs think that they can do whatever they want, including killing people; they don’t believe that the system (the law) can touch them. And they are right – because of all the criminalities and the lack of interest of these young gangs, they can actually do almost anything. Because they stick together when they get caught; meaning, that they don’t tell on each other’s. And the young people in the gangs are too young to get in jail – so they don’t get punished, and so they just keep on doing it.

3. Connect your answer to question 2 to the following quote from the text (who says it, what is her connection to the murder case, what relevance does her comment have to the social problem you discussed above etc.):

“The kids just want to prove themselves. They want to be good at something, to be someone. They don't realise that what they do is bad. All the kids know that the law says you can't touch them.” (p. 65, column 2, line 8 – 13)

Bromley.

She claimed that she had witnessed the murder of Damilola. She explains that theirs a lot of bullying, and that they all smokes a lot of weed; also Damilola. She says they get violent because of the drugs – and then they need more crack to commit more crimes to get money.

That shows the social problems in Peckham.

4. Message

What do you think is the message of this article? Find at least two quotes from the text to support your answer.

The message of this article is to make people aware of the growing problem that there is in Peckham. And that only punishing them with jail or whatever do not stop the crimes.

“Peckham is just the beginning if the government is not act this sort of culture will develop in all our inner cities.” (P. 66 column two, line 18-25)

“They just don’t care what happens to them anymore. The law and adult mean nothing to them – they have never had positive experience of either.”

(p. 66 column two, line 5-9)