By Claude Mills, Staff ReporterROSALIND 'CHRISTINE' Richards made a tear-choked appeal to the general public to help the authorities apprehend the killers of her ex-partner Bertram 'Tony' Byfield, and her seven-year-old daughter, during a press conference at the Office of the Commissioner of Police's conference room, Old Hope Road, yesterday.
She read a brief statement to the press, but was forced to pause several times to fight back tears that welled up in her eyes.
"I beg anyone who knows anything about this horrible crime to come forward to the police. Whosoever did this has left a son without a sister and without a father. We are deeply saddened and shocked by this loss," she began in a colourless voice.
"Tony (Bertram Byfield) visited us last month," she said, pausing to compose herself before beginning again. "And he brought us presents. He was here for Jermaine when he passed his GSAT, my daughter went to England for a better life, now, my seven-year-old girl has been taken from this world. I just want to know why and who could take my beautiful daughter Toni-Ann from us in such a cruel way."
Minutes before the press conference began, Ms. Richards, dressed in a Bob Marley Legend T-shirt, black jeans and blue flip-flops, posed for pictures with her 13-year-old son, Jermaine, on her right, and her 10-year-old son, Keron on her left.
Questioned about the role of the Birmingham Council Social Services in helping to contribute to Toni-Ann's death, Detective Superintendent Richard Turner of Scotland Yard responded:
"It is right to say that Toni-Ann, while she was living in England, was under the care of the Birmingham Council Social Services. It is right to say, that at the moment, as happens in these cases, an urgent review is happening with regard to these tragic events. I am not prepared to comment on this investigation and that review, clearly we are talking closely with the social services and this matter will form part of the investigation."
REFUSED TO RESPOND
He refused to respond to questions regarding the reasons Toni-Ann was placed in protective care in the first place. There is no definitive time when the funeral of Toni-Ann and her father will take place.
"Nobody has been charged at the moment, and the bodies will only be released on the Coroner's Authority. That may well take a number of weeks. I can assure you that we and the High Commission will give every assistance to Rosalind and if necessary, her children, if the funeral will take place in London," said Detective Superintendent Turner.
However, Ms. Richards expressed hope that she will be able to bring the bodies home for a funeral, and the British High Commission later promised to facilitate her request.
