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US woman Aimee Betro convicted over failed assassination in UK US woman Aimee Betro convicted over failed assassination in UK
(32 minutes later)
Jurors deliberated for almost 21 hours before convicting Aimee Betro of conspiracy to murderJurors deliberated for almost 21 hours before convicting Aimee Betro of conspiracy to murder
A US woman who was hired as a killer and tried to shoot a man in the UK at point-blank range has been found guilty of conspiracy to murder.A US woman who was hired as a killer and tried to shoot a man in the UK at point-blank range has been found guilty of conspiracy to murder.
Would-be assassin Aimee Betro, from West Allis in Wisconsin, flew into the country as part of a plot to attack a British family in Birmingham in 2019, before going on the run for nearly five years.Would-be assassin Aimee Betro, from West Allis in Wisconsin, flew into the country as part of a plot to attack a British family in Birmingham in 2019, before going on the run for nearly five years.
Her co-conspirators had been involved in a feud with the family, her trial heard.Her co-conspirators had been involved in a feud with the family, her trial heard.
During the case at Birmingham Crown Court, jurors heard Betro hid her identity using a niqab when she tried to fire shots on Measham Grove, Yardley, but her gun jammed and the individual at whom she had aimed fled the scene unharmed. During the case at Birmingham Crown Court, jurors were told Betro hid her identity using a niqab when she tried to fire shots on Measham Grove, Yardley, but her gun jammed and the individual at whom she had aimed fled the scene unharmed.
Jurors deliberated for almost 21 hours before convicting Betro of conspiracy to murder, possessing a self-loading pistol with intent to cause fear of violence, and illegally importing ammunition.Jurors deliberated for almost 21 hours before convicting Betro of conspiracy to murder, possessing a self-loading pistol with intent to cause fear of violence, and illegally importing ammunition.
During the trial, jurors were told the defendant had been involved in a conspiracy with two men - Mohammed Nazir and Mohammed Aslam - as part of their vendetta against Birmingham businessman Aslat Mahumad. During the trial, they heard the defendant had been involved in a conspiracy with two men - Mohammed Nazir and Mohammed Aslam - as part of their vendetta against Birmingham businessman Aslat Mahumad.
Prosecutors said revenge was the motive after Nazir and Aslam were injured during disorder at Mr Mahumad's clothing boutique in July 2018. Prosecutors said revenge was the men's motive after Nazir and Aslam were injured during disorder at Mr Mahumad's clothing boutique in July 2018.
A plot was hatched, the court heard, to have someone kill Mr Mahumad or a member of his family. That person was Betro.A plot was hatched, the court heard, to have someone kill Mr Mahumad or a member of his family. That person was Betro.
As the jury returned its verdicts, the defendant, wearing a purple T-shirt and with her hair in space buns, showed no obvious reaction and stared towards the jury. But despite the events in which she was a key player, detectives have suggested records point to Betro having virtually no criminal past prior to the murder plot.
She was found guilty by a majority 11-1 verdict, on the conspiracy to murder and firearm charges, and by a unanimous verdict on the ammunition charge. She nevertheless produced a gun one September night six years ago, with Mr Mahumad's son, Sikander Ali, the one to face the barrel after she lay in wait outside their family home.
'Poor disguise' Her conviction came after Nazir, 31, and his father Aslam, 59, both from Derby, were jailed last year having been convicted of conspiracy to murder.
Speaking after Betro was convicted, Det Ch Insp Alastair Orencas said only a malfunction of her pistol or a "rogue" bullet had prevented Betro from shooting Mr Ali. As the jury returned its verdicts following Betro's separate trial this summer, the defendant, wearing a purple T-shirt and with her hair in space buns, showed no obvious reaction and stared towards the jury.
Betro's use of a niqab to hide her face "didn't work very well" as "the footwear didn't change, phones didn't change" and various CCTV cameras caught her in the area of the shooting, Det Ch Insp Orencas said. She was found guilty by a majority 11-1 verdict, on the conspiracy to murder and firearm charges, and by a unanimous verdict on the ammunition charge. She is due to be sentenced on 21 August.
"It was a fairly poor attempt [at disguise] and again, whether or not the attitude was that the British police wouldn't be up to it, I think she was fatally flawed, if that was ever the consideration in her mind," Mr Orencas noted.
Betro's attempted shooting was caught on CCTVBetro's attempted shooting was caught on CCTV
While she was on the run, Betro spent several years in Armenia, before being detained by authorities and extradited to face trial, after being tracked down to a hideout by the Daily Mail newspaper. She is due to be sentenced on 21 August. The trial heard how on the night of the shooting, Betro lay in wait in a car she bought earlier that day. When Sikander Ali arrived at the property - and in CCTV scenes shown to the jury - Betro, with a covered face, approached him and fired the gun at point-blank range.
Thanking the Mail for its investigation, Det Ch Insp Orencas said: "There were parallel inquiries going on but, without a doubt, the Daily Mail were of great assistance.
"And I'll say thank you on record to the Mail with regard to that."
Hannah Sidaway, from the Crown Prosecution Service in the West Midlands, said it was "sheer luck" that Sikander Ali managed to get away unscathed.
Betro's motive for becoming involved in the plot remains unclear, with Ms Sidaway saying "only Betro" knew what drove her "or what she sought to gain from becoming embroiled in a crime that meant she travelled hundreds of miles from Wisconsin to Birmingham".
Defence barrister Paul Lewis KC said he was not asking for pre-sentence reports as they would not assist the court.
CCTV footage shows Aimee Betro in Birmingham following the attempted shooting of Sikander Ali
Despite the events in which she was a key player, detectives have suggested records point to Betro having virtually no criminal past prior to the murder plot.
Her conviction comes after Nazir, 31, and his father Aslam, 59, both from Derby, were jailed last year after being convicted of conspiracy to murder.
In Betro's separate trial this summer, the court heard how it was Mr Mahumad's son who faced the barrel of her gun on a September night six years ago after she lay in wait outside their family home.
She did so in a car she bought earlier that day. When Sikander Ali arrived at the property - and in CCTV scenes shown to the jury - Betro, with a covered face, approached him and fired the gun at point-blank range.
After it jammed, Mr Ali managed to escape by reversing in his SUV.After it jammed, Mr Ali managed to escape by reversing in his SUV.
Betro, the prosecution said, returned to the scene in a taxi in the early hours of the following day and fired three shots through the windows of the empty family home.Betro, the prosecution said, returned to the scene in a taxi in the early hours of the following day and fired three shots through the windows of the empty family home.
Prior to that return visit, jurors were told, Betro sent messages to Mr Mahumad, which included: "Where are you hiding?" "Stop playing hide and seek, you are lucky it jammed."Prior to that return visit, jurors were told, Betro sent messages to Mr Mahumad, which included: "Where are you hiding?" "Stop playing hide and seek, you are lucky it jammed."
Hannah Sidaway, from the Crown Prosecution Service in the West Midlands, said it was "sheer luck" that Mr Ali managed to get away unscathed.
Betro's motive for becoming involved in the plot remains unclear, with Ms Sidaway saying "only Betro" knew what drove her "or what she sought to gain from becoming embroiled in a crime that meant she travelled hundreds of miles from Wisconsin to Birmingham".
Speaking after Betro was convicted, Det Ch Insp Alastair Orencas said only a malfunction of her pistol or a "rogue" bullet had prevented Betro from shooting Mr Ali.
Betro's use of a niqab to hide her face "didn't work very well" as "the footwear didn't change, phones didn't change" and various CCTV cameras caught her in the area of the shooting, Det Ch Insp Orencas said.
"It was a fairly poor attempt [at disguise] and again, whether or not the attitude was that the British police wouldn't be up to it, I think she was fatally flawed, if that was ever the consideration in her mind," he noted.
Denying the charges against her in court, Betro said she was in Birmingham city centre at the time of the first incident and with friends at the time of the second.
She maintained during the proceedings that a woman described as having an American accent who bought a vehicle linked to the plot was not her, and rejected the claims that Nazir or his father got her involved in a plan to kill, or that she was the person who actually wielded the gun.
CCTV footage shows Aimee Betro in Birmingham following the attempted shooting of Sikander Ali
While she was on the run, Betro spent several years in Armenia, before being detained by authorities and extradited to face trial, after being tracked down to a hideout by the Daily Mail newspaper.
Thanking the Mail for its investigation, Det Ch Insp Orencas said: "There were parallel inquiries going on but, without a doubt, the Daily Mail were of great assistance.
"And I'll say thank you on record to the Mail with regard to that."