Jamaica link probed in 7-yr-old girl's murder

Wednesday, January 28, 2004

LONDON, England: British police investigating the drug-related murder of a seven-year-old girl and her father say they are investigating his business links in Jamaica and have appealed for information.

According to a report by Reuters, Toni-Ann Byfield, who had just arrived in Britain from Jamaica, was shot in the back by a Yardie hitman who had just killed her father Bertram Byfield, 41, a convicted crack dealer.

Police believe Toni-Ann was probably gunned down to stop her identifying her father's murderer. They said on Monday he was probably killed over a drug debt that he had previously tried to collect.

Bertram had visited Jamaica in June 2003 -- where he was known as Anthony Pinnock -- and police appealed to those who had seen him or knew of his business movements to come forward.

"You may be a member of the public, or a member of the criminal fraternity," Detective Chief Inspector Neil Basu said in a statement. "You may have been involved in an illegal transaction with Bertram. This is not the focus of our investigation.

"This is an investigation into murder, not drugs." 

  Back...

  Most popular articles: viewed, printed and e-mailed

  Printable version