Aimee Betro had intention to kill before flying to UK, detectives believe
*
SIGN UP
I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice
Detectives believe Aimee Betro had a determined and settled intention to kill even before she flew to the UK to join her partner's murder plot.
Speaking after Betro was convicted of conspiracy to murder at Birmingham Crown Court, Detective Chief Inspector Alastair Orencas said only a malfunction of her pistol or a 'rogue' bullet had prevented Betro from shooting Sikander Ali.
Jurors at Birmingham Crown Court deliberated for almost 21 hours before finding Betro guilty of conspiracy to murder, possessing a self-loading pistol and a charge of fraudulently evading the prohibition on importing ammunition.
The childhood development and graphic design graduate, who denied all the charges, flew into Britain to take part in a plot orchestrated by co-conspirators Mohammed Nabil Nazir, 31, and Mohammed Aslam, 56, to shoot dead Aslat Mahumad following an altercation in a shop.
Betro, 45, from Wisconsin, was caught on CCTV as she tried to shoot Mr Ali, Mr Mahumad's son, in Measham Grove, Yardley, Birmingham, in September 2019.
Commenting on Betro's conviction, Mr Orencas said of the assassination attempt: 'Whether the slider is jammed or it's a rogue round, it has failed to discharge that firearm.'
Asked about Betro's use of false names to book herself into hotels and to buy a car before the assassination attempt, Mr Orencas said he believed Betro knew of the murder plot before she jetted in from the United States more than a fortnight beforehand.
The officer said: 'I think this is a carefully planned, persistent, murderous plot. It's unbelievable to me that that would be conceived without careful lengthy planning.'
But he said of the actual shooting bid: 'It's a brazen attempt. There doesn't seem to be a whole lot of effort to avoid detection. I think she fell foul of a really slick, dynamic law enforcement operation over here.
'I don't know whether that was her perspective from America that that's how we operate – but (there is) zero tolerance around firearms criminality on these shores.'
Betro was convicted on 'overwhelming' evidence, the senior officer said, adding that she had 'a troublesome relationship with the truth' in giving her account of what happened.
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, Mr 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,' Mr Orencas noted.
Thanking the Daily Mail for its investigation that tracked down Betro's hideout in Armenia in summer 2024, the detective chief inspector continued: '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 Daily Mail with regard to that.'
Mr Orencas added: 'I think the tenacity of the investigation team has been outstanding to the point where we had officers, that were coming towards the end of their service, retire and come back as civilian investigators.
'And they've stuck in right to the end because they were so passionate about getting justice, really, for the family, but the broader community in the West Midlands who simply won't tolerate firearms criminality.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
17 minutes ago
- The Independent
Tories and Reform decry two-tier justice as suspended Labour councillor cleared
Conservative and Reform politicians have decried what they call 'two-tier justice' after a suspended Labour councillor who called for far-right activists' throats to be cut was found not guilty of encouraging violent disorder. Ricky Jones, 58, faced trial at Snaresbrook Crown Court accused of the offence after he described demonstrators as 'disgusting Nazi fascists' at an anti-racism rally in the wake of the Southport murders. He was cleared on Friday. Nigel Farage and shadow home secretary Chris Philp both pointed to the idea of 'two-tier justice' in relation to the case. Mr Philp compared the case to that of Lucy Connolly, who was jailed after she posted a tweet calling for 'mass deportation' and 'set fire to all the f****** hotels' on the day of the Southport attacks last year. In a post on X, Mr Philp said: 'The development of two tier justice is becoming increasingly alarming.' Ex-Reform chairman Zia Yusuf also referred to Connolly's case, and said that 'two tier justice in this country is out of control'. Connolly pleaded guilty last year to a charge of inciting racial hatred by publishing and distributing 'threatening or abusive' written material on X, which meant she did not face a trial. In Jones' case, a jury deliberated for just over half an hour before they found him not guilty. A video showing Jones addressing crowds on Hoe Street in Walthamstow, east London, on August 7 last year went viral on social media after the protest, which had been organised in response to plans for a far-right march outside Waltham Forest Immigration Bureau. The suspended councillor said in the clip: 'They are disgusting Nazi fascists. We need to cut all their throats and get rid of them all.' He also drew his finger across his throat as he spoke to the crowd. Jurors deliberated for just over 30 minutes and found him not guilty on Friday. Jones, who wore a navy blue suit with a white shirt and pale pink tie in the dock, was seen mouthing 'thank-you' at the jurors. Family and supporters hugged each other before Jones, who declined to comment on the verdict, was driven out of the court grounds in a car. The 58-year-old, who at the time was also employed as a full-time official for the Transport Salaried Staffs' Association (TSSA) union, was arrested on August 8 last year and interviewed at Brixton police station that night. Jones, who has been a borough councillor in Dartford, Kent, since 2019, was suspended by Labour the day after the incident. It is understood that a party investigation remains ongoing, and its outcome will decide what happens to his membership. A spokesperson for the party said at the time that his behaviour 'was completely unacceptable and it will not be tolerated'. Giving evidence in his trial, Jones said his comment did not refer to far-right protesters involved in the riots at the time, but to those who had reportedly left National Front stickers on a train with razor blades hidden behind them. Before he made the comment, jurors were shown video where he said to crowds: 'You've got women and children using these trains during the summer holidays. 'They don't give a shit about who they hurt.' He told the court he was 'appalled' by political violence, adding: 'I've always believed the best way to make people realise who you are and what you are is to do it peacefully.'
BBC News
17 minutes ago
- BBC News
Attempted murder arrests after serious disorder in Bilston
Four men have been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder following serious disorder in Midlands Police said officers were called to Arbour Drive, Bilston, at just after 06:00 BST, with three people taken to hospital for injuries not thought to be life-threatening,There were reports of large-scale disorder involving a number of people and bladed force said it would like to reassure the public that it believed this to be a targeted attack. Det Insp Adam Keen said: "A number of teams came together to make quick arrests, and our investigation is moving quickly as we establish exactly what happened."We have already spoken to a number of witnesses and are gathering CCTV, and if anyone has more information, I'd urge them to get in touch." Follow BBC Wolverhampton & Black Country on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
BBC News
17 minutes ago
- BBC News
Liverpool fire-starter who damaged Beatles attraction jailed
An arsonist who started a fire that damaged a Beatles attraction in the Liverpool street where the band made their name has been Byrne, 38, was caught on CCTV on 14 July setting alight rubbish piled up outside the Beatles Museum in Mathew Street, close to where the famous original Cavern Club venue was. When he was arrested, Byrne, of no fixed address, claimed he had done it because he was being bullied by the government. He was sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court to three and a half years behind bars for arson with recklessness as to whether life was endangered. Byrne was first seen at about 04:00 GMT carrying a sleeping bag before launching his attack. He approached a bin full of rubbish at the side of the museum and then made several attempts to set fire to it with his the flames took hold, he stood back to watch and then walked away. He looked back again a few times as he made his way up Matthew Street, CCTV of the incident showed. Danger He told police he had been drinking vodka before the incident, which damaged the doors of the museum. Speaking after the sentencing hearing on Monday, senior crown prosecutor Mikayla Kitchen, of CPS Mersey-Cheshire, said: "Daniel Byrne deliberately caused a fire by the Liverpool Beatles Museum. "He remained at the scene to ensure it had caught fire, checking the extent of the damage as he walked away. "He had no regard for the lives of people he placed in danger. This sentence reflects the seriousness of his actions on that night." Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
