Besotted US hitwoman in burka disguise jailed for trying to kill shop owner in shooting after falling for his rival

The Irish Sun

10 hours ago

LOCKED UP Besotted US hitwoman in burka disguise jailed for trying to kill shop owner in shooting after falling for his rival
A BESOTTED hitwoman in a burka disguise has been jailed for trying to murder a shop owner in a botched hit after falling for his rival.
Aimee Betro travelled from the US to the UK after being hired by Mohammed Nazir, 30, and Mohammed Aslam, 56, to kill the head of a rival family.
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Aimee Betro was captured firing the weapon in the failed assassination attempt
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The wannabe hitwoman disguised herself in a burka
Credit: PA
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She has now been convicted over the plot
Credit: Social media
The 45-year-old arrived in Birmingham, West Midlands, and disguised herself under a burka to carry out the contract hit.
Lovestruck Beto had fallen in love with Nazir despite the pair meeting just three times.
But when she pointed the gun at Sikander Ali's head and pulled the trigger, the weapon jammed and the target was able to flee.
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Undeterred, she later went to Sikander's home and fired three shots before flying back to America.
Betro has now been jailed for 30 years after she was convicted of conspiracy to murder and possessing a self-loading pistol with intent to cause fear of violence.
She was also found guilty of a charge of illegally importing ammunition following a trial.
Judge Simon Drew KC said: "You went beyond simply reaching an agreement to kill and, in reality, you did intend to kill Mr Ali.
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"It is only a matter of chance that Mr Ali wasn't killed."
Nazir and Aslam were previously jailed for a total of 42 years after they were found guilty of conspiracy to murder.
Birmingham Crown Court heard the pair hatched the plot following a fight at a boutique clothing store in 2018.
Both Nazir and Aslam harboured a grudge against Aslat Mahumad and his family after they came off worse in the scuffle.
Hell-bent on revenge, they enlisted the help of the hitwoman - flying her over from the US so she could execute him or a loved one.
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CCTV showed Betro lying in wait outside the shop owner's family home in a Mercedes she had bought earlier that day.
Around 45 minutes later, Aslat's son Sikander arrived home - with Betro leaving her car with her face covered.
She was seen firing the gun at point-blank range before it jammed during the September 2019 attack.
Sikander then escaped by reversing his SUV out of the road, clipping the car door of the BMW and damaging it so badly it would no longer close.
After the failed shooting, Betro messaged Aslat asking him where he was hiding.
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She added: "Stop playing hide and seek, you are lucky it jammed."
Betro later returned to the scene in a taxi and fired three shots through the windows of Aslat's home.
The damaged Mercedes was later found dumped, with cops finding a black glove with Betro's DNA on it.
Meanwhile, Betro fled to Manchester Airport and was back in the US the following day.
A global hunt was launched for Betro, who had taken selfies before the shooting, and she was arrested in Armenia.
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She denied conspiracy to murder, possession of a firearm with intent to cause fear or violence and smuggling of ammunition into the UK.
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Betro flew in from the US to carry out the botched hit
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She was seen checking into a Birmingham hotel
Credit: PA
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She travelled to her intended victim's home and blasted it three times
Credit: SWNS
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Thankfully no one was at home at the time
Credit: SWNS
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Mohammed Nazir was found guilty of conspiracy to murder last year
Credit: PA