Skip to main contentAccess keys help

[an error occurred while processing this directive]
BBC News
watch One-Minute World News
Last Updated: Friday, 19 September, 2003, 19:21 GMT 20:21 UK
Mother appeals for help in murder hunt
Roselyn Richards
Ms Richards wants her daughter buried in Jamaica
The Jamaican mother of a seven-year-old girl murdered in a north-west London bedsit has appealed for help in finding her daughter's killer.

Toni-Ann Byfield died after being shot in the back by her father's killer in Kensal Green on Sunday.

As British police visit Jamaica as part of their inquiry into the double killing, her mother Rosalyn Richards expressed anger and grief at her daughter's murder.

"Please help the police find the wicked person that pulled the trigger and shot Toni-Ann in the back and killed her father in cold-blooded murder," she said.

"I keep on asking what a seven-year-old girl could do to some one for that horrible death. She don't deserve it," she told the BBC.

"It's not going to bring them back but at least it will stop those wicked gunmen from killing someone else."

Toni-Ann Byfield
Toni-Ann spent her last day shopping for a school uniform
A 23-year-old man arrested in connection with the shooting has been bailed until October, but remains in custody on suspicion of immigration offences.

Ms Richards said she would like to attend the funeral of Bertram Byfield, Toni-Ann's father, and also return Toni-Ann's body to Kingston, Jamaica, for burial.

"She's still in my heart, she's still my baby," she said.

A candlelit vigil was held on Thursday in Kensal Green, near where the pair were shot.

Toni-Ann arrived in the UK from Jamaica in 2000 and had been staying with relatives in Birmingham.

A ward of court known to Birmingham Social Services, she had been staying with her father, a convicted criminal, for the weekend.

'Strong relationship' with father

A review of the management of her care is due to start.

Peter Hay, strategic director of Social Care and Health at Birmingham City Council, said: "Toni-Ann made it very clear that she had a strong relationship with her father and wanted contact with him.

"In line with legislation that takes the child's wishes into account, and gives precedent to contact and placement with people thought to be relatives, the court rightly granted contact.

"This exposed Toni-Ann to risks that related to her father's criminality. The review will need to consider some of the broader implications of balancing these complex problems."

Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call police on 020 8358 0608.




WATCH AND LISTEN
The BBC's Daniel Sandford
"The British detectives hunting Toni-Ann's killer have come to Jamaica to interview her family"



SEE ALSO:
Community vigil for Toni-Ann
18 Sep 03  |  London
Inquiry into shot girl's care
17 Sep 03  |  London


RELATED INTERNET LINKS:
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites


PRODUCTS AND SERVICES

News Front Page | Africa | Americas | Asia-Pacific | Europe | Middle East | South Asia
UK | Business | Entertainment | Science/Nature | Technology | Health
Have Your Say | In Pictures | Week at a Glance | Country Profiles | In Depth | Programmes
AmericasAfricaEuropeMiddle EastSouth AsiaAsia Pacific