Bertram Byfield
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Bertram Byfield, born 1962, is a Jamaican murder victim and a former drug dealer.
He was shot, along with his seven-year-old daughter Toni-Ann Byfield, by rival drug dealer Joel Smith at a bedsit in Kensal Green, London, in September 2003.[1] Bertram Byfield had believed he was Toni-Ann's father. However, post-mortem examinations revealed he was not.
He had been jailed in 1997 for dealing in crack cocaine. Despite his criminal background Toni-Ann, who was living under the care of Birmingham Social Services, had been allowed to visit him at his bedsit in an ex-offenders' hostel.
As well as serving time in prison Mr Byfield, who was also known as Tony or Blacka, is believed to have been affiliated to a Jamaican drugs cartel. He had survived an attempt on his life in 2002 when he was shot six times.[2] Smith believed that he had committed a perfect crime, leaving no DNA or forensic evidence at the scene. There was also no CCTV in the area.
Neighbours had heard four shots followed by silence.
Following the murders Smith, who was known as Cocaine or Caine, fled London to Liverpool. While serving a prison sentence there he was turned by former friends and acquaintances who had been appalled by the murder.
In court, Smith had denied the murders, claiming another man had admitted being the killer to him. [3] After being found guilty Smith was jailed for life for both murders. The judge recommended that he serve a minimum of 40 years for Toni-Ann’s murder and 33 years for that of Mr Byfield.
