US woman found guilty in failed UK assassination plot

A US woman who travelled to the UK as part of a murder plot and tried to shoot a man at point-blank range has been found guilty of conspiracy to murder.

Aimee Betro, from West Allis, Wisconsin, came to Birmingham in 2019 to target a British family before going on the run for nearly five years. Her trial heard she was working with others in a dispute involving the family of intended target Sikander Ali.

Jurors at Birmingham Crown Court were told Betro disguised herself in a niqab when she attempted to fire shots on Measham Grove, Yardley, but her gun jammed and Mr Ali escaped unharmed.

After almost 21 hours of deliberation, the jury found her guilty of conspiracy to murder, possessing a self-loading pistol with intent to cause fear of violence, and illegally importing ammunition.

Betro, dressed in a purple T-shirt with her hair in space buns, showed no visible reaction as the verdicts were delivered. She was convicted by an 11-1 majority on the conspiracy and firearm charges, and unanimously on the ammunition charge.

While on the run, Betro spent several years in Armenia before being detained and extradited to the UK. She will be sentenced on 21 August.

Defence barrister Paul Lewis KC told the court he was not requesting pre-sentence reports. Judge Simon Drew KC said: “I suspect Miss Betro would like to know the outcome of this case and there is nothing worse than sitting waiting.”

The court heard Betro had worked with Mohammed Nazir and Mohammed Aslam in a vendetta against Birmingham businessman Aslat Mahumad. Prosecutors said the dispute began after Nazir and Aslam were injured during disorder at Mr Mahumad’s clothing shop in July 2018.

A plan was then formed to kill Mr Mahumad or a member of his family, with Betro chosen to carry it out. Police said her record showed little to no criminal history before the plot.

Nazir, 31, and his father Aslam, 59, both from Derby, were jailed last year for conspiracy to murder.

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