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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Tafarwa Beckford: Birmingham gang member jailed for revenge shooting | Tafarwa Beckford: Birmingham gang member jailed for revenge shooting |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A notorious member of Birmingham's Burger Bar gang has been jailed for murdering a man in a revenge shooting. | |
| Tafarwa Beckford, 36, shot dead Derek Myers, 25, outside a Birmingham snooker club in what the judge described as "armed gang warfare" in 2015. | |
| Beckford, of Duchess Road, Ladywood, fired two shots following a "hostile interaction" between two groups of men outside the Big Bang club in Soho Hill. | Beckford, of Duchess Road, Ladywood, fired two shots following a "hostile interaction" between two groups of men outside the Big Bang club in Soho Hill. |
| He was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum of 32 years. | |
| Det Ch Supt Mark Payne, from West Midlands Police, said the conviction was "one of the most significant in Birmingham over the last 20 years". | |
| 'Brewing argument' | 'Brewing argument' |
| Beckford, also known as "Dreads" and "Charmer", stood trial under his middle name Theodore after defence lawyers argued that his reputation could prejudice proceedings. | Beckford, also known as "Dreads" and "Charmer", stood trial under his middle name Theodore after defence lawyers argued that his reputation could prejudice proceedings. |
| 'Looking for trouble' | |
| It is the third time he has been tried for the murder of Mr Myers, who was shot at close range in the chest and jaw, because previous juries failed to return verdicts in November 2016 and April 2018. | It is the third time he has been tried for the murder of Mr Myers, who was shot at close range in the chest and jaw, because previous juries failed to return verdicts in November 2016 and April 2018. |
| This trial heard there had been a "brewing argument" between factions of Birmingham's Burger Bar gang outside the snooker club in Hockley at about 04:30 GMT on 30 October 2015 which had "turned physical". | This trial heard there had been a "brewing argument" between factions of Birmingham's Burger Bar gang outside the snooker club in Hockley at about 04:30 GMT on 30 October 2015 which had "turned physical". |
| Judge Patrick Thomas QC told Birmingham Crown Court Beckford had "swaggered" into the club "looking for trouble". | |
| Beckford's friend Marcus Duffus was stabbed and shot five times, and while he lay seriously injured on the pavement Beckford followed the group and shot Mr Myers. | Beckford's friend Marcus Duffus was stabbed and shot five times, and while he lay seriously injured on the pavement Beckford followed the group and shot Mr Myers. |
| Judge Thomas said Beckford knew Mr Myers was armed and mistakenly believed he had shot Mr Duffus. | |
| The shooting was "obviously... a gang shooting", the judge said, after which Beckford "characteristically fled the scene". | |
| "Any sentence the court passes must demonstrate that the people of this country, the people of this city, will not tolerate armed gang warfare on their streets." | "Any sentence the court passes must demonstrate that the people of this country, the people of this city, will not tolerate armed gang warfare on their streets." |
| 'Iconic criminal' | 'Iconic criminal' |
| He said there had been "a blanket of silence to conceal the truth from the authorities". | He said there had been "a blanket of silence to conceal the truth from the authorities". |
| Despite more than 150 people being in the club, only a "handful" came forward with information. | Despite more than 150 people being in the club, only a "handful" came forward with information. |
| Beckford, who is the step-brother of singer Jamelia, had previously been accused of the murders of Charlene Ellis, Letisha Shakespeare and Christopher Clarke. | Beckford, who is the step-brother of singer Jamelia, had previously been accused of the murders of Charlene Ellis, Letisha Shakespeare and Christopher Clarke. |
| Because of a lack of evidence Beckford was acquitted of the murders of Ms Ellis and Ms Shakespeare, who were shot outside a hairdressing salon in Aston on New Year's Day in 2003. | Because of a lack of evidence Beckford was acquitted of the murders of Ms Ellis and Ms Shakespeare, who were shot outside a hairdressing salon in Aston on New Year's Day in 2003. |
| Mr Clarke was stabbed and beaten with Champagne bottles in a Birmingham nightclub in March 2000 and Beckford was convicted of affray. | Mr Clarke was stabbed and beaten with Champagne bottles in a Birmingham nightclub in March 2000 and Beckford was convicted of affray. |
| Police described Beckford as an "iconic criminal" who "saw himself as above the law". | Police described Beckford as an "iconic criminal" who "saw himself as above the law". |