6 days ago
How bungling US would-be 'assassin' was caught on camera every step she made in Birmingham
From a burka disguise to bullet casings left in the street, US tourist Aimee Betro left a trail of evidence which revealed her to be at the centre of a Birmingham murder plot.
The 45-year-old, from Wisconsin, tried to shoot Sikander Ali outside his home in Measham Grove, Yardley only for her gun to jam on the evening of September 7, 2019.
It was all part of a plan to target the man's father and city clothes shop owner Aslat Mahumad amid tensions with rival father and son Mohammed Aslam and Mohammed Nazir, from Derby.
READ MORE: Bungling US assassin guilty of failed Birmingham murder plot
While Betro's co-conspirators were being jailed last year she remained at large, despite being identified as the gun for hire at their trial and her name being widely publicised.
She was ultimately tracked down to Armenia where she was arrested last summer.
READ MORE: The pictures that proved Birmingham 'assassin' was gallivanting US tourist Aimee Betro
Police had gathered overwhelming evidence that identified Betro as the would-be hitwoman, as well as the person who returned to Mr Ali's address hours later and shot three bullets through his home.
In addition, having fled back to the US, Betro posted gun components to another man in the UK as part of her boyfriend Nazir's separate plot to frame someone.
Standing trial at Birmingham Crown Court she told the jury she came to the UK in August 2019 for her birthday and to do 'random touristy things' from boat parties to music events.
But the jury was presented with a mountain of evidence against her as CCTV tracked every key movement she made while in Birmingham at the relevant times.
Betro was clearly captured on camera arriving at The Rotunda which she used as her 'base' in the city centre in the days prior to the attempted shooting.
She was similarly recorded purchasing her 'dirty' burner phone from a Tesco and walking around New Street.
Betro was regularly seen wearing flip flops and a distinctive summer dress, the same one she had been described wearing by the person who sold her the used Mercedes she used to drive to Mr Ali's address.
Shortly before the failed shooting CCTV captured the car travelling around nearby roads, with the driver seemingly concealed by a burka and niqab.
It was the same disguise Mr Ali recalled the gunwoman who confronted him was wearing.
Afterwards, a woman was filmed walking around the area in a dress and flip flops.
CCTV from The Journey's End on Clay Lane, Yardley, clearly captured Betro standing in the front doorway, wearing her head covering.
Ultimately, she had no choice but to accept she was in the area at the time but claimed it was a coincidence.
She further concocted a story that she had arranged to meet convicted co-conspirator Nazir to retrieve her phone.
A voice recording of a woman with a distinct American accent ordering a taxi away from the area was also played to the court.
Likewise, the call of Betro calling a cab back to the area a few hours later was presented along with the CCTV of a hooded figure firing at Mr Ali's address.
Photographs showed how three bullets had penetrated the windows and damaged the ceiling and wall.
Shell casings were also recovered from outside the home. Finally, the jury's evidence bundle contained pictures of the gun components Betro sent to the UK as well as CCTV stills showing the sender at the post office while heavily covered up.
Betro was found guilty of conspiracy to commit murder, possessing a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence and an offence in relation to smuggling firearms into the UK. She will be sentenced on August 21.
