Toni-Ann was victim of drug feud

Murdered schoolgirl Toni-Ann Byfield was the innocent victim of a drugs debt involving a ruthless Jamaican cartel, it was revealed today.

The man the seven-year-old believed was her father was either a member of the gang or working for them to enforce a drugs payment of £25,000.

Scotland Yard revealed the details as an inquiry report due out today was expected to a series of blunders by social workers and immigration.

Toni-Ann died alongside crack dealer Tony Byfield last September in his bed-sit in Kensal Green. Police believe she was shot in the back to stop her identifying his killer.

Today they said she was probably shot first in front of him. The inquiry has found that Byfield was not her biological father, though both of them believed he was.

Detectives said the murder was a contract killing which may have been carried out by a gunman sent from Jamaica.

Detective Chief Inspector Neil Basu said Tony Byfield was closely affiliated to a gang of Jamaican crack dealers running cocaine into the UK.

He said: "The murderer came from or is known to members of this gang. It is possible Tony was trying to elevate himself in the hierarchy of this gang or was trying to call in a debt on their behalf and was killed as a result of his actions."

The review found Toni-Ann was placed in the care of a girlfriend of Byfield's without a proper risk assessment. Her mother Roselyn Richards, 32, wants a public inquiry, claiming the murder could have been prevented if Birmingham social services had done their job properly.