Another young death under the spectre of drugs and guns
On Friday, a drug dealer named Joel Smith was convicted for the murder of Bertram Byfield and Toni-Ann Byfield. Toni-Ann had been visiting Mr Byfield, who understood he was her biological father, but DNA tests revealed he was not. Mr Byfield was a convicted crack cocaine dealer residing in an ex-offender's bedsit in Kensal Green, North West London. Smith visited to kill Byfield and rob him of his possessions, assumed to be drugs and money. Unfortunately innocent seven-year-old Toni-Ann was there too at the same moment and Smith shot her as she turned her back to flee fromm him, after she witnessed Smith shooting dead Mr Byfield.
To think Smith left no clues, no witnesses of him leaving the premises, no CCTV footage of him or a vehicle suspected to or proven to have been used by him or by anyone else harbouring him. Shooting Toni-An covered any chance of revealing the assailant's identity, the perfect crime, if such a concept can be condoned. Except for the honour amongst thieves, or murdererd, or drug dealers. Because nonetheless, shooting a child, an innocent child, was a step too far.
Criminals are into crime just to get by, others to have something to raise a family on, to help pay the continuingly increasing bills that come with living. There are some who may have both in mind, or simply want to live the rich life at the expense of others, without the effort of honest grafting under legal employment. Nonetheless, shooting a child is a taboo. Due to nationwide appeals, Smith's name was conceded to the law authorities and a search for him developed intelligence of his whereabouts in Liverpool, where he was for two years after the murders as a prisoner.
Yet what it is that gets to me is not so much the murders but also the Birmingham Social Services. What was their policy in regard to Toni-Ann visiting a convicted drug dealer? For me, a convicted drug dealer would have to convince me he or she will have nothing more to do with drugs. No taking them, no selling them, no laundering them, carrying them, looking at them. How they will prove that is up to them, they just have to convince me. But for a statement to be worded like this beggars belief:
"We've made really significant changes to address all recommendations of an independent review.....At the end of the day however, I can't guarantee that armed gunmen won't walk into a room and shoot people. And at the end of the day, that's what lies at the heart of this case."
- Peter Hay, Birmingham City Council's strategic director of social care
Cannot guarantee armed gunmen walking into a room but Birmingham Social Services can guarantee to check more thoroughly, if they did at all, on who children in their care are visiting or residing with. Perhaps they would have preferred a child was sent to visit or reside with a paedophile, a child molester, where maybe they can guarantee the child won't be murdered but interfered with. Such a stupid statement, which comes on the back of those who failed Victoria Climbie in Wembley and Tottenham, North West and North London respectively.
Miss Climbie was being looked after her aunt, Marie-Therese Kouao, under the understanding of her mother in the Ivory Coast that Victoria would have a better opportunity to gain a high standard of education in Europe. Kouao initially lived in Paris, France but was being pursued by the authorities over benefit payments and took off to England. Kouao and Victoria meet Carl Manning, a bus driver, while he was working, and both move into his place in Tottenham. It is there Victoria's tragic abuse began at the hands of Manning. Read the timeline of this terrible, tragic eventual murder of eight-year-old Victoria here:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/2062590.stm
Birmingham Social Services to release such a statement showed they do not feel any lack of duty in Toni-Ann being allowed to visit Byfield and therefore murdered for being in the wrong place. Such a flippant tone, they should be condemned and those responsible for Toni-Ann's care should be reprimanded or dismissed. Meanwhile, Smith was jailed for life for both murders, with a recommendation he serve a minimum of 40 years for the killing of Toni-Ann and 33 years for the murder of Mr Byfield. Concurrently. I have read many stories of where I feel British justice has constantly let down those affected by the actions of an offender as that offender is let off lightly in punishment. Concurrently means at the same time therefore Smith will served 40 years instead of 73 years. Smith should answer in full for both murders, and he is not the only one.
To think Smith left no clues, no witnesses of him leaving the premises, no CCTV footage of him or a vehicle suspected to or proven to have been used by him or by anyone else harbouring him. Shooting Toni-An covered any chance of revealing the assailant's identity, the perfect crime, if such a concept can be condoned. Except for the honour amongst thieves, or murdererd, or drug dealers. Because nonetheless, shooting a child, an innocent child, was a step too far.
Criminals are into crime just to get by, others to have something to raise a family on, to help pay the continuingly increasing bills that come with living. There are some who may have both in mind, or simply want to live the rich life at the expense of others, without the effort of honest grafting under legal employment. Nonetheless, shooting a child is a taboo. Due to nationwide appeals, Smith's name was conceded to the law authorities and a search for him developed intelligence of his whereabouts in Liverpool, where he was for two years after the murders as a prisoner.
Yet what it is that gets to me is not so much the murders but also the Birmingham Social Services. What was their policy in regard to Toni-Ann visiting a convicted drug dealer? For me, a convicted drug dealer would have to convince me he or she will have nothing more to do with drugs. No taking them, no selling them, no laundering them, carrying them, looking at them. How they will prove that is up to them, they just have to convince me. But for a statement to be worded like this beggars belief:
"We've made really significant changes to address all recommendations of an independent review.....At the end of the day however, I can't guarantee that armed gunmen won't walk into a room and shoot people. And at the end of the day, that's what lies at the heart of this case."
- Peter Hay, Birmingham City Council's strategic director of social care
Cannot guarantee armed gunmen walking into a room but Birmingham Social Services can guarantee to check more thoroughly, if they did at all, on who children in their care are visiting or residing with. Perhaps they would have preferred a child was sent to visit or reside with a paedophile, a child molester, where maybe they can guarantee the child won't be murdered but interfered with. Such a stupid statement, which comes on the back of those who failed Victoria Climbie in Wembley and Tottenham, North West and North London respectively.
Miss Climbie was being looked after her aunt, Marie-Therese Kouao, under the understanding of her mother in the Ivory Coast that Victoria would have a better opportunity to gain a high standard of education in Europe. Kouao initially lived in Paris, France but was being pursued by the authorities over benefit payments and took off to England. Kouao and Victoria meet Carl Manning, a bus driver, while he was working, and both move into his place in Tottenham. It is there Victoria's tragic abuse began at the hands of Manning. Read the timeline of this terrible, tragic eventual murder of eight-year-old Victoria here:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/2062590.stm
Birmingham Social Services to release such a statement showed they do not feel any lack of duty in Toni-Ann being allowed to visit Byfield and therefore murdered for being in the wrong place. Such a flippant tone, they should be condemned and those responsible for Toni-Ann's care should be reprimanded or dismissed. Meanwhile, Smith was jailed for life for both murders, with a recommendation he serve a minimum of 40 years for the killing of Toni-Ann and 33 years for the murder of Mr Byfield. Concurrently. I have read many stories of where I feel British justice has constantly let down those affected by the actions of an offender as that offender is let off lightly in punishment. Concurrently means at the same time therefore Smith will served 40 years instead of 73 years. Smith should answer in full for both murders, and he is not the only one.
posted by RedsMan at 8/05/2006 10:46:00 AM
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