Toni-Ann Byfield
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On September 13, 2003, Toni-Ann Byfield was shot along with Bertram Byfield at his flat on harrow road, kensal green near Harlesden in North West London.
Toni-Ann was staying with Bertram Byfield when an armed assailant killed them both. It is believed that the motive behind the murders was related to a debt from a drug deal on Bertram's part. Bertram held a previous conviction for a drug offence for which he had recently served nine years in prison. Toni-Ann was believed to have been killed with one shot in the back due to her capacity as a potential witness.
Information about the murders was slow to come, as it was believed that many people were afraid to submit evidence for fear of retribution. £25,000 was offered as a reward by the police for anyone who could offer evidence leading to the arrest and prosecution of the killer. As a result, 23-year-old Joel Carl Smith was arrested on suspicion of the crime. Smith, a rival drug dealer, was convicted of both murders in August 2006, and given two life sentences.
Toni-Ann was, at the time of her death, in the care of Birmingham Social Services, who had placed her in the care of a foster family. However, when the family went on holiday, she was left with a friend of Bertram's, and was allowed to stay in Bertram's bedsit for the weekend. Before the shootings it was believed that Bertram was the father of Toni-Ann, which was later shown by DNA tests to be untrue.
Toni-Ann was seven years of age at the time of her death. She was born in Jamaica but raised in the United Kingdom from an early age. Her mother, Rosalyn Richards, did not emigrate to the UK with Toni-Ann and Bertram, but arrived in the UK soon after the murders to make an appeal to the public to assist in finding the killer. While she was in the UK, she claimed asylum but her request was rejected and she is due to be deported.
The murder provoked outrage around London and brought criticism of Birmingham Social Services to the fore. The Department of Social Services, when dealing with children, holds a policy of taking the wishes of the child into serious consideration, and holds the position that placing the child with parents or other relatives is preferable to a foster family. Toni-Ann, through her own admission, was very close to Bertram and had expressed a desire to be with her "father". However, criticism was made of Birmingham Social Services for failing to take into account that Bertram had recently served a prison sentence for a drug offence and was believed to still be involved in the drug trade.
The case brought due issues in Britain to the fore. It forced the police, media and consequently public to take a more focussed stand on gun crime, and it has become an important issue since. This case, together with a number of others including that of Victoria Climbié, also raised questions about the failings and limitations of the Social Services.
