Toni-Ann buried as bishop calls for end to killing

At the service in Birmingham, Bishop Derek Webley drew a standing ovation from mourners at the service for the youngster and her father, Bertram Byfield, 41, as he made a plea for criminals in the black community to end the cycle of violence and drug-dealing.

Toni-Ann, who had lived in Birmingham and was in the care of the city's social services, was shot in the back as she tried to flee a gunman who, moments earlier, had murdered Mr Byfield at his London bedsit in what is thought to have been a gangland-style execution.

To cheers, Bishop Webley said that black communities should not settle for the negative images often portrayed, particularly relating to people of Jamaican origin, simply because a minority were caught up in gun crime.

The funeral took place in the New Testament Church of God, Birmingham, and was followed by a burial service at nearby Handsworth Cemetery.

In his address at the end of the two-hour service, which heard scores of tributes to Toni-Ann and her father, the minister said: "We don't need to fight ourselves, we need to fight the enemy - we need to fight injustice, we need to fight oppression.

"The overwhelming majority of black people, African-Caribbean people, are law-abiding citizens who contribute to this society, who have moral values.

"Yes, we may slip but so does everyone else, we must not settle for the negative images that are projected because of the few.

"We need to realise that we cannot remain on the path of destruction, we must rise against evil, we must rise against destruction."

Bishop Webley told the congregation, which included the youngster's mother, Roselyn Richards, that there was a danger of people becoming immune to the increasing number of so called black on black shootings. "We have become tired, but we know the danger that we run is to become used to it, to be immune to it so, somehow, it becomes part of our daily life.

"When I looked at that child lying there, I thought 'have we stooped to this level where someone pulled a gun on a child and then not had the conscience to come forward?'"

Branding those responsible for murdering Toni-Ann and her father "cowards", the minister added: "I do not want to pull my punches here today - we should not be here."

In a warning to those responsible for the sickening shooting, at the bedsit in Kensal Green, north west London, on September 14th, the Minister added: "We are sick of it and in the name of Jesus Christ we cannot find you but he will."

Bishop Joe Aldred, of the Council of Black-Led Churches, described the killing of Toni-Ann as "grotesque". He added: "This community is tired, tired of the scourge of drugs and guns. It is tired of the self-inflicted wounds that come as a result of these two.

"I sense that everybody wants to come together as a community and to rid ourselves of this senseless yet painful way of existing."

The service, attended by about 200 mourners, heard a series of tributes to Toni-Ann, many recalling her "sweet, intoxicating smile".

Many close relatives were inconsolable as they viewed the open casket of Toni-Ann and her father at the end of the service. Toni-Ann's godmother, Marcia Ashley, was the first to pay tribute to the youngster in a statement read out by family friend Dorothy Gayle.

She recalled how Toni-Ann, who was affectionately known as TT, after her middle name Tia, used to take flowers home from school to her mother.

The tribute read: "You were such a caring, loving child, that even after you were taken away from me in the most vicious circumstances, if I could do everything I could have to have you back, I would."

One of Mr Byfield's sisters, Lorna Campbell, told mourners the family was "living in a world of sorrow" and called on the community to unite against gun crime.

"We have to try to form unity, unity for all of us and for the children. To live in this world with guns is not right. It is a cycle that we as a community must change and try to make it better."

Another of Mr Byfield's sisters, Lorraine Smith, struggled to maintain her composure as she said she had never met Toni-Ann.

Mrs Smith said: "I have never met Toni-Ann, but every time my brother called me, he always talked about her - she's bright, she's beautiful."

About 10 detectives from the Metropolitan Police, who are investigating the murders, also attended the service.

Niall Deehan, family liaison officer to the grieving relatives, drew applause with his call for the congregation to pray for an end to gun crime.

The officer, part of Operation Trident, which investigates black on black shootings in the capital, added: "I ask you to pray that people who want to take children from us stop the killing and let us all live in peace and harmony."

The head teachers of primary schools in Birmingham and London which Tony-Ann attended after arriving from Jamaica in 2000, said they would be creating memorials in their respective grounds to remember the youngster.

Ann Gallagher, head teacher of Lozells School, said: "We are a happy school and she added to that happiness.

"She enjoyed her time with us and we enjoyed her being with us."

A friend of Mr Byfield, Anthony Robinson, described him as a mentor and father figure.

Mr Robinson said he had visited Mr Byfield in prison, having grown up with him in Jamaica and been his friend for 15 years.

"He was my mentor and a genuine friend," Mr Robinson told the congregation. He added: "Tony-Ann was such a bright and promising child. Who can remember her sweet intoxicating smile? A smile which will live on in our minds."

Tony-Ann's body was carried into church in a white coffin topped by a white wreath while her father was in a wooden casket.

The coffins arrived at the head of a cortege and lined by wreaths spelling "Dad" and "Daughter" respectively. Hymns included Amazing Grace and All Things Bright and Beautiful.

After the service Detective Superintendent Rick Turner, of the Metropolitan Police, and a member of Operation Trident, said officers were today offering a £20,000 reward for information leading to the identification and arrest of the killer.

Mr Turner told reporters officers were particularly keen to speak to a man who twice rang the murder inquiry incident room and provided some information about the tragedy.

He further appealed for up to 13 people who were picked up on CCTV cameras in the vicinity of Mr Byfield's bedsit around the time of the killings to come forward.

Officers have also recovered a red Renault Clio, registration RK02 OXC in connection with the inquiry. Mr Turner said the investigation had established where the vehicle was on September 6 and 15, but wanted to know where the driver of the vehicle was on the night of the murders.