Ten-year-old Damilola was stabbed on his way home from school

Hassan Jihad, 19, of Peckham, south-east London, and two brothers aged 16 and 17, pleaded not guilty.

They also denied an alternative charge of manslaughter and assault with intent to rob and are expected to reappear for trial on 12 January.

Nigerian-born Damilola, 10, was stabbed in November 2000. Four youths were acquitted of his murder in 2002.

The three accused were aged between 12 and 14 at the time of the attack on 27 November on a run-down estate in Peckham.

Damilola, who died 10 days short of his 11th birthday, came to Britain in August 2000 with his mother Gloria, sister Bemi and brother Tunde.