The key witness in the Damilola Taylor murder trial yesterday halted proceedings for a second day when she announced she was going home. The 14-year-old schoolgirl was just 20 minutes into her second day in the witness box at the Old Bailey when she stormed out of the courtroom.
She left after saying: "You know what? I'm going home." She left a court stunned into silence behind her. Trial judge Mr Justice Hooper then adjourned proceedings for five minutes.
But it was one-and-a-half hours later when she returned.
It was the second day the girl had sparred with defence barrister, Mr Courtenay Griffiths QC. On Monday the trial had to be halted when she pleaded to go home after Mr Griffiths repeatedly accused her of lying. The girl, the prosecution says, was the only witness to the killing of 10-year-old Damilola, who was left to bleed to death after being stabbed with a broken bottle in November 2000.
Two brothers aged 16, their 17-year-old friend and a 14-year-old youth deny murder, manslaughter and assault with intent to rob. Yesterday, the angry exchanges with the barrister continued as he questioned her account of the attack at the North Peckham Estate, London.
But after 10 minutes, she was again asking to go home. The judge told her she would have to answer more of Mr Griffiths' questions, telling her: "I cannot let you go home now."
The judge told her she must return for more questioning on Friday.