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Jamelia's stepbrother guilty of Birmingham gun murder | Jamelia's stepbrother guilty of Birmingham gun murder |
(35 minutes later) | |
The stepbrother of R&B singer Jamelia has been convicted of murdering a man in a revenge shooting outside a Birmingham snooker club. | The stepbrother of R&B singer Jamelia has been convicted of murdering a man in a revenge shooting outside a Birmingham snooker club. |
Tafarwa Beckford, 36, fired two shots at Derek Myers, 25, after a "hostile interaction" between two groups of men in Hockley on 30 October 2015. | Tafarwa Beckford, 36, fired two shots at Derek Myers, 25, after a "hostile interaction" between two groups of men in Hockley on 30 October 2015. |
The city's crown court heard Beckford carried out the attack after his friend Marvin Duffus was targeted outside the Big Bang snooker club in Soho Hill. | The city's crown court heard Beckford carried out the attack after his friend Marvin Duffus was targeted outside the Big Bang snooker club in Soho Hill. |
He will be sentenced on Wednesday. | He will be sentenced on Wednesday. |
The jury was not told that Beckford, who was also known as "Dreads" and "Charmer", had twice previously stood trial for separate gang-related killings. | The jury was not told that Beckford, who was also known as "Dreads" and "Charmer", had twice previously stood trial for separate gang-related killings. |
'Brewing argument' | |
He was accused of the murders of Charlene Ellis and Letisha Shakespeare, who were shot outside a hairdressing salon in Aston on New Year's Day of 2003, but was acquitted in 2005 because of a lack of evidence. | |
Beckford was also acquitted of the murder of Christopher Clarke who was stabbed and beaten with champagne bottles in a Birmingham nightclub in March 2000. He was convicted instead of the lesser charge of affray, for which he received a 30-month sentence. | |
Beckford, of Duchess Road, Ladywood, was allowed to use his middle name of Theodore at his trial, after his defence lawyers argued his reputation may prejudice proceedings. | |
This is the third time he has stood trial for the murder of Mr Myers after juries in November 2016 and April 2018 failed to reach verdicts. | |
Prosecutor Annabel Darlow QC had told the trial of a "brewing argument" outside the snooker club, at about 04:30 GMT, which turned physical. | Prosecutor Annabel Darlow QC had told the trial of a "brewing argument" outside the snooker club, at about 04:30 GMT, which turned physical. |
Mr Duffus was attacked and stabbed before being shot five times, Ms Darlow said. | Mr Duffus was attacked and stabbed before being shot five times, Ms Darlow said. |
The jury heard that six men were seen walking away from Mr Duffus as he lay seriously injured on the pavement. | The jury heard that six men were seen walking away from Mr Duffus as he lay seriously injured on the pavement. |
Beckford was seen following the group, before shooting Mr Myers. | Beckford was seen following the group, before shooting Mr Myers. |
After the hearing Det Ch Sup Mark Payne said: "Beckford is a dangerous man with a notorious history of involvement in gang violence who we suspect is linked to other shootings. He is now a convicted killer… and he's looking at spending upwards of 30 years behind bars." | |
In 2004, Jamelia's half brother Kairo Beckford was jailed for life for the murder of Daniel Bogle, who was shot in a drive-by shooting in August 2003. | In 2004, Jamelia's half brother Kairo Beckford was jailed for life for the murder of Daniel Bogle, who was shot in a drive-by shooting in August 2003. |