BANFIELD: BOOKMAKER’S WIFE AND DAUGHTER ACCUSED OF HIS MURDER ARE GRANTED BAIL
The wife and daughter of a retired bookmaker who disappeared ten years ago have today (Fri) been freed on bail while they await trial for his murder.
Shirley Banfield, 64, and Lynette Banfield, 40, are charged with killing 63-year-old Don Banfield following his disappearance from his home in Locket Road, Wealdstone, northwest London in 2001.
His body has never been found despite a BBC Crimewatch appeal last year.
The two women, charged in July this year after a cold case review began in 2009, are said to have pretended he was alive while continuing to draw his pension.
Shirley and Lynette Banfield spoke only to confirm their identities during the brief hearing before the Old Bailey.
Releasing them on bail until another preliminary hearing on December 22, Judge Christopher Moss QC ordered that they observe an 8pm to 8am curfew at their Canterbury home, monitored by electronic ankle tags.
They must also surrender their passports within 24 hours, report to their local police station three times a week and not contact any prosecution witness.
‘In view of what I have heard, I am going to grant bail on the conditions we have discussed,’ he said.
After hearing that Shirley did not know where her passport was, he added: ‘The prosecution will deal with it sensibly.
‘They have heard she cannot find it and I am perfectly happy to accept that.’
The trial, expected to last three to four weeks, is due to begin on March 5 next year.
Mr Banfield, a Trinidadian father-of-four, had worked as a manager for William Hill in Hampstead before his retirement, while Shirley Banfield had a 30-year career as a tax officer with the Inland Revenue.
Both women, of Ashford Road, Canterbury, Kent, have yet to enter pleas to murder, conspiracy to defraud, forgery and conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.
It is claimed they fraudulently transferred the payment of the William Hill pension to a joint account in May 2001 until November 2008, forged Shirley Banfield’s claim for disability living allowance and agreed to falsely claim they had seen Mr Banfield in December 2008.
Shirley Banfield is also accused of retraining wrongful credit relating to the payment of Mr Banfield’s state pension into the joint bank account between February 2003 and May 2009.
It is also alleged they falsely claimed that Mr Banfield visited them in Christmas 2008.
ends
