Joel Smith (murderer)
Encyclopedia
Joel Smith, born 1973, is a drug dealer and convicted murderer.
On 4 August 2006 he was convicted of murdering seven-year-old Toni-Ann Byfield and the man who was thought to be her father, Bertram Byfield, at a bedsit in Kensal Green
, London
, in September 2003.
Toni-Ann was shot in the back by Smith after he had shot Bertram Byfield, a rival drug dealer, so that she could not identify Mr. Byfield's killer. Smith believed that he had committed a perfect crime, leaving no DNA
or forensic evidence at the scene. Following the murders Smith, who was known as Cocaine or Caine, fled London to Liverpool
. While serving a prison sentence there he was turned in by former friends and acquaintances.
, he had little contact with his father and lived with his mother. He claimed to have been physically abused as a baby. By the age of 17 he committed his first offence, a robbery.
Smith went on to receive 34 convictions including violence, drugs and firearms offences and robberies. He was a member of a notorious gang, the Mus Love Crew.
Toni-Ann had been getting ready for bed at the time. She entered the room and was shot once in the back as she attempted to flee.
.
. 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. Bertram Byfield had believed he was Toni-Ann's father. However, post-mortem examinations revealed he was not.
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.
Toni-Ann was seven years old at the time of her death. She was born in Jamaica
but raised in the United Kingdom for most of her life. 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, has 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 murder forced the police, media and consequently public to take a more focused stand on gun crime, which 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 Social Services departments.
On 4 August 2006 he was convicted of murdering seven-year-old Toni-Ann Byfield and the man who was thought to be her father, Bertram Byfield, at a bedsit in Kensal Green
Kensal Green
Kensal Green, also referred to as Kensal Rise is an area of London, England. It is located on the southern edge of the London Borough of Brent and borders the City of Westminster to the East and the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea to the South....
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, in September 2003.
Toni-Ann was shot in the back by Smith after he had shot Bertram Byfield, a rival drug dealer, so that she could not identify Mr. Byfield's killer. Smith believed that he had committed a perfect crime, leaving no DNA
DNA
Deoxyribonucleic acid is a nucleic acid that contains the genetic instructions used in the development and functioning of all known living organisms . The DNA segments that carry this genetic information are called genes, but other DNA sequences have structural purposes, or are involved in...
or forensic evidence at the scene. Following the murders Smith, who was known as Cocaine or Caine, fled London to Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
. While serving a prison sentence there he was turned in by former friends and acquaintances.
Early life
Smith was born in LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, he had little contact with his father and lived with his mother. He claimed to have been physically abused as a baby. By the age of 17 he committed his first offence, a robbery.
Smith went on to receive 34 convictions including violence, drugs and firearms offences and robberies. He was a member of a notorious gang, the Mus Love Crew.
Murders
Smith gained entry to Byfield's property on the pretext of wanting to buy cannabis. He shot Byfield three times in his living room, using a 9mm semi-automatic. The victim grabbed a bicycle which he attempted to throw at Smith, though his body ended up entangled in the frame.Toni-Ann had been getting ready for bed at the time. She entered the room and was shot once in the back as she attempted to flee.
Trial
In court, Smith had denied the murders, claiming another man had admitted being the killer to him. After being found guilty Smith was jailed for life for both murders, with a recommendation that he should serve at least 40 years before being considered for parole. As a result, he is likely to remain in prison until at least 2045 and the age of 72. This sentence is one of the longest recommended minimum terms ever made by a judge or politician in England and WalesEngland and Wales
England and Wales is a jurisdiction within the United Kingdom. It consists of England and Wales, two of the four countries of the United Kingdom...
.
Bertram Byfield
Bertram Byfield had been jailed in 1997 for dealing in crack cocaineCrack cocaine
Crack cocaine is the freebase form of cocaine that can be smoked. It may also be termed rock, hard, iron, cavvy, base, or just crack; it is the most addictive form of cocaine. Crack rocks offer a short but intense high to smokers...
. Despite his criminal background Toni-Ann, who was living under the care of Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
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. Bertram Byfield had believed he was Toni-Ann's father. However, post-mortem examinations revealed he was not.
Toni-Ann Byfield
Toni-Ann was staying with Bertram Byfield when they were killed. At the time of her death, she was in the care of BirminghamBirmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
Social Services, who had placed her in the care of a foster family
Foster care
Foster care is the term used for a system in which a minor who has been made a ward is placed in the private home of a state certified caregiver referred to as a "foster parent"....
. 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
Bedsit
A bedsit, also known as a bed-sitting room, is a form of rented accommodation common in Great Britain and Ireland consisting of a single room and shared bathroom; they are part of a legal category of dwellings referred to as Houses in multiple occupation....
for the weekend.
Toni-Ann was seven years old at the time of her death. She was born in Jamaica
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
but raised in the United Kingdom for most of her life. 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, has 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 murder forced the police, media and consequently public to take a more focused stand on gun crime, which has become an important issue since. This case, together with a number of others including that of Victoria Climbié
Victoria Climbié
In 2000 in London, England, an eight-year-old Ivorian girl Victoria Adjo Climbié was tortured and murdered by her guardians...
, also raised questions about the failings and limitations of Social Services departments.
External links
- BBC News: Gun fears follow Toni-Ann verdict
- The Scotman: 'Cold-blooded' Toni-Ann killer to serve 40 years by Shenai Raif
- Caribbean Net News: London drug dealer jailed for life for Jamaican girl's murder by Peter Griffiths
- BBC News article covering Smith's conviction
- BBC News article covering the event
- The Guardian newspaper coverage
- The Scotsman newspaper coverage
- The Independent newspaper coverage
- Daily Telegraph newspaper coverage