Latest news with #Walkling
Telegraph
a day ago
- Telegraph
American ‘niqab assassin' claims evidence against her is ‘just a coincidence'
An American accused of attempting to assassinate a Birmingham businessman has claimed the evidence against her is 'a coincidence'. Aimee Betro, 45, told jurors it was 'all just a terrible coincidence' that she was around the corner from the scene six minutes after it happened. She accepted that the assassin wore shoes like hers, used the same mobile phone and had an American accent. But she maintained that she was not responsible for the attempted assassination. Betro, who denies conspiracy to murder, is alleged to have flown into Britain and taken part in a plot orchestrated by co-conspirators Mohammed Aslam, 56, and his 31-year-old son Mohammed Nabil Nazir to attack a rival family in September 2019. Prosecutors allege Betro hid her identity using a niqab when she tried to shoot Sikander Ali at point blank range outside his home in Measham Grove, Yardley, but the gun jammed, allowing him to flee. Birmingham Crown Court has heard that Aslam and Nazir, who were jailed last year for their part in the assassination plot, were involved in a feud with Mr Ali's father, Aslat Mahumad. Addressing the evidence against her during questioning by defence barrister Paul Lewis KC, Betro claimed she was in Birmingham city centre during the attempted assassination and a follow-up shooting at the intended victim's house hours later. She also maintained that a woman described as having an American accent and being small and fat, who bought a vehicle linked to the plot, was not her. Betro went on to claim that she did not have possession of a gun at any time during the night of Sept 7 into the early hours of Sept 8, when three shots were fired at a house in Measham Grove after a woman arrived there in a taxi. During cross-examination of Betro, prosecutor Tom Walkling KC, the defendant said that 'a different American woman' had called Mr Mahumad, using a phone Betro had bought. Betro claimed she had not bought a Mercedes car used in the plot, then agreed with Mr Walkling when he asked if 'that was a different American woman as well?' Mr Walkling then asked: 'And you didn't try to murder Sikander Ali that evening?' Betro said: 'No.' Mr Walkling continued: 'But you were around the corner six minutes later?' Betro answered: 'Yes.' The graphic design and childhood education graduate, who spent five years living in Armenia before her arrest in January this year, confirmed to Mr Walkling that it was her case that the 'other American woman' who had fired shots at a property in Measham Grove in the early hours and was 'using your phone and wearing shoes like yours'. Mr Walkling then asked 'It's all just a terrible coincidence, is it?' and Betro replied: 'Yes.' The prosecutor said: 'So there must be, on your case, another American woman in Birmingham at the same time as you, who knew Mr Nazir, who sounded similar to you, who used the cheap phone that you bought, who called [a taxi firm] on your own telephone, and who wore at the very least the same sort of Converse trainers you had.' Betro answered: 'Yes.' Mr Walkling continued: 'This other American woman we are describing told a taxi [driver] she wanted to go back to the Rotunda. So was this mysterious American woman who shared so many characteristics with you also staying at the Rotunda? It does sound rather like you doesn't it?' Wearing a black top, glasses and with her hair in space buns, Betro replied: 'No.' Betro told the jury on Monday that she flew into Britain to celebrate her birthday and attend a boat party, having met Nazir on a dating app and having previously travelled to the UK to meet him. The defendant also denies possessing a self-loading pistol and a charge of fraudulently evading the prohibition on importing ammunition. The trial continues.
The Independent
a day ago
- The Independent
US woman claims murder bid evidence against her is ‘terrible coincidence'
A US citizen accused of attempting to shoot a stranger dead has suggested the perpetrator was 'another American woman' who sounded similar to her, used the same phone and wore the same sort of trainers. Aimee Betro, 45, told jurors that it was 'all just a terrible coincidence' that she was around the corner from the scene of the attempted assassination six minutes later. Betro, who denies conspiracy to murder, is alleged to have flown into Britain and taken part in a plot orchestrated by co-conspirators Mohammed Aslam, 56, and his son Mohammed Nabil Nazir, 31, to attack a rival family, in September 2019. Betro, from West Allis in Wisconsin, told jurors on Tuesday that she did not know there had been an attempted killing when she left the UK two days afterwards. Prosecutors allege Betro hid her identity using a niqab when she tried to shoot Sikander Ali at point blank range outside his home in Measham Grove, Yardley, Birmingham, but the gun jammed, allowing him to flee. Birmingham Crown Court has heard Aslam and Nazir, who were jailed last year for their part in the assassination plot, were involved in a feud with Mr Ali's father, Aslat Mahumad. Addressing the evidence against her in chronological order during questioning by defence barrister Paul Lewis KC, Betro claimed she was in Birmingham city centre at the time of the attempted assassination, and a follow-up shooting at the intended victim's house hours later. She also maintained that a woman described as having an American accent and being small and fat, who bought a vehicle linked to the plot, was not her. Betro went on to claim that she did not have possession of a gun at any time during the night of September 7 into the early hours of September 8, when three shots were fired at a house in Measham Grove after a woman arrived there in a taxi. During cross-examination of Betro, prosecutor Tom Walkling KC asked her a series of questions about what she claimed the 'different American woman' had done at about the time of the attempted murder and the follow-up incident. Answering questions from Mr Walkling, the defendant said that the other American woman had called Mr Mahumad, using a phone Betro had bought. Betro claimed she had not bought a Mercedes car used in the plot, then agreed with Mr Walkling when he asked if 'that was a different American woman as well?' Mr Walkling then asked: 'And you didn't try to murder Sikander Ali that evening?' Betro said: 'No.' Mr Walkling continued: 'But you were around the corner six minutes later?' Betro answered: 'Yes.' The graphic design and childhood education graduate, who spent five years living in Armenia before her arrest in January this year, confirmed to Mr Walkling that it was her case that the 'other American woman' who had fired shots at a property in Measham Grove in the early hours and was 'using your phone and wearing shoes like yours'. Mr Walkling then asked 'It's all just a terrible coincidence is it?' and Betro replied: 'Yes.' The prosecutor said: 'So there must be, on your case, another American woman in Birmingham at the same time as you, who knew Mr Nazir, who sounded similar to you, who used the cheap phone that you bought, who called (a taxi firm) on your own telephone, and who wore at the very least the same sort of Converse trainers you had.' Betro answered: 'Yes.' Mr Walkling continued: 'This other American woman we are describing told a taxi (driver) she wanted to go back to the Rotunda. 'So was this mysterious American woman who shared so many characteristics with you also staying at the Rotunda? It does sound rather like you doesn't it?' Wearing a black top, glasses and with her hair in space buns, Betro replied: 'No.' She also claimed she had 'no reason or motive' to carry out the shooting and did not know the intended victim's family. Betro told the jury on Monday that she flew into Britain to celebrate her birthday and attend a boat party, having met Nazir on a dating app and having previously travelled to the UK to meet him. The defendant also denies possessing a self-loading pistol and a charge of fraudulently evading the prohibition on importing ammunition. The trial continues.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
US woman claims murder bid evidence against her is ‘terrible coincidence'
A US citizen accused of attempting to shoot a stranger dead has suggested the perpetrator was 'another American woman' who sounded similar to her, used the same phone and wore the same sort of trainers. Aimee Betro, 45, told jurors that it was 'all just a terrible coincidence' that she was around the corner from the scene of the attempted assassination six minutes later. Betro, who denies conspiracy to murder, is alleged to have flown into Britain and taken part in a plot orchestrated by co-conspirators Mohammed Aslam, 56, and his son Mohammed Nabil Nazir, 31, to attack a rival family, in September 2019. Betro, from West Allis in Wisconsin, told jurors on Tuesday that she did not know there had been an attempted killing when she left the UK two days afterwards. Prosecutors allege Betro hid her identity using a niqab when she tried to shoot Sikander Ali at point blank range outside his home in Measham Grove, Yardley, Birmingham, but the gun jammed, allowing him to flee. Birmingham Crown Court has heard Aslam and Nazir, who were jailed last year for their part in the assassination plot, were involved in a feud with Mr Ali's father, Aslat Mahumad. Addressing the evidence against her in chronological order during questioning by defence barrister Paul Lewis KC, Betro claimed she was in Birmingham city centre at the time of the attempted assassination, and a follow-up shooting at the intended victim's house hours later. She also maintained that a woman described as having an American accent and being small and fat, who bought a vehicle linked to the plot, was not her. Betro went on to claim that she did not have possession of a gun at any time during the night of September 7 into the early hours of September 8, when three shots were fired at a house in Measham Grove after a woman arrived there in a taxi. During cross-examination of Betro, prosecutor Tom Walkling KC asked her a series of questions about what she claimed the 'different American woman' had done at about the time of the attempted murder and the follow-up incident. Answering questions from Mr Walkling, the defendant said that the other American woman had called Mr Mahumad, using a phone Betro had bought. Betro claimed she had not bought a Mercedes car used in the plot, then agreed with Mr Walkling when he asked if 'that was a different American woman as well?' Mr Walkling then asked: 'And you didn't try to murder Sikander Ali that evening?' Betro said: 'No.' Mr Walkling continued: 'But you were around the corner six minutes later?' Betro answered: 'Yes.' The graphic design and childhood education graduate, who spent five years living in Armenia before her arrest in January this year, confirmed to Mr Walkling that it was her case that the 'other American woman' who had fired shots at a property in Measham Grove in the early hours and was 'using your phone and wearing shoes like yours'. Mr Walkling then asked 'It's all just a terrible coincidence is it?' and Betro replied: 'Yes.' The prosecutor said: 'So there must be, on your case, another American woman in Birmingham at the same time as you, who knew Mr Nazir, who sounded similar to you, who used the cheap phone that you bought, who called (a taxi firm) on your own telephone, and who wore at the very least the same sort of Converse trainers you had.' Betro answered: 'Yes.' Mr Walkling continued: 'This other American woman we are describing told a taxi (driver) she wanted to go back to the Rotunda. 'So was this mysterious American woman who shared so many characteristics with you also staying at the Rotunda? It does sound rather like you doesn't it?' Wearing a black top, glasses and with her hair in space buns, Betro replied: 'No.' She also claimed she had 'no reason or motive' to carry out the shooting and did not know the intended victim's family. Betro told the jury on Monday that she flew into Britain to celebrate her birthday and attend a boat party, having met Nazir on a dating app and having previously travelled to the UK to meet him. The defendant also denies possessing a self-loading pistol and a charge of fraudulently evading the prohibition on importing ammunition. The trial continues.
Daily Mirror
21-07-2025
- Daily Mirror
American 'assassin' Aimee Betro travelled to UK to carry out shooting, court hears
Aimee Betro, from Wisconsin, was disguised in a niqab and burkha when she tried to kill her intended victim in Birmingham, it is claimed. Jurors were told the plot failed when the gun jammed. An alleged female 'assassin' travelled from the US to carry out a shooting outside a family home in Birmingham as part of a "vendetta", a court heard. The plot failed after Aimee Betro's gun jammed when she pulled the trigger metres away from the intended victim, it is claimed. The 45-year-old was disguised in a niqab when she carried out the attempted hit in September 2019, jurors were told. She allegedly returned to the house, in a quiet cul-de-sac, hours later and fired shots into two bedroom windows. Betro was in a three-way conspiracy with Mohammed Nazir and his dad Mohammed Aslam, prosecutors said. Birmingham crown court heard the two men wanted to murder clothing store owner Aslat Mahamud after a dispute. They were involved in a 'vendetta' and decided to carry out a killing as 'revenge' for an earlier incident, it is claimed. Prosecutor Tom Walkling KC said Betro flew from the US to Manchester two weeks before the attempted assassination. She allegedly bought a 'dirty' burner phone from Tesco two days before the hit in South Yardley. The following day she rang Mr Mahamud saying she was interested in buying a car he was selling, it is claimed. 'She was calling him as a pretext to set up a chance to kill him,' said Mr Walkling. Jurors were told she sat waiting for 45 minutes in a Mercedes outside Mr Mahamud's home dressed in a niqab and burkha Betro then tried to shoot his son Sikander Ali when he arrived at the property, the court heard. 'The assassin was a woman who disguised her appearance by wearing a niqab, a face covering, and what looked like a burkha,' said Mr Walkling. 'She had waited for someone to go into that house. When they did she pulled out a gun, a pistol, and pulled the trigger. She was only metres away from the intended victim. But the gun jammed, it failed to fire.' Mr Walkling said Mr Ali jumped back into his car and sped away from the scene after surviving the hit. Betro later allegedly texted his dad asking 'where are you hiding?' and saying 'stop playing hide and seek, you're lucky it jammed'. She then went back to the family's home and opened fire, Mr Walkling said. 'The gunwoman wasn't deterred. She returned to the same address on the same cul-de-sac a few hours later,' he added. 'She used the now-working gun to shoot three bullets through the bedroom windows of the victim's home.' A black glove with the American's DNA on it was later found inside the abandoned Mercedes, jurors were told. Betro left the UK two days after the botched hit, it is claimed. Nazir, 30, and his 56-year-old dad, both from Derby, have already been convicted of conspiracy to murder. Nazir has also been found guilty of possession of a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence, the court heard. Betro, from Wisconsin, denies conspiracy to murder and possessing a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence. She also denies sending bullets from the US to the UK.
