Latest news with #Betro
Telegraph
8 hours 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.
Daily Mirror
8 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
'Hired killer' denies shooting Brit as she's 'too fat' to be woman seen on CCTV
Aimee Betro, 45, denied any involvement in the failed assassination - telling a court she didn't have a gun and was not slim enough to be the person caught on CCTV fleeing the scene A woman accused of being involved in a botched assassination attempt has insisted she wasn't in possession of any gun - and was too fat to be a person caught on CCTV fleeing the scene. Aimee Betro, 45, from Wisconsin, allegedly flew to Britain as part of a plot with co-conspirators Mohammed Aslam, 56, and his son Mohammed Nabil Nazir, 31, targeting a family rival in September 2019. Giving evidence on Tuesday, she told a jury she had no knowledge of any shooting attempt when she left the country two days later. Prosecutors claim Betro concealed her identity with a niqab and attempted to shoot Sikander Ali at a close range outside his home in Measham Grove, Yardley, Birmingham - but the gun reportedly jammed, allowing the man to escape. During questioning by her defence barrister Paul Lewis KC, Betro addressed the allegations in timeline order, telling the court she had been in Birmingham city centre at the time of both the failed shooting and a follow-up shooting at the intended victim's house hours later. She also denied being the woman - described as short, fat and speaking with an American accent - who was seen buying a Mercedes said to have been used in the plot. During her second day of evidence to Birmingham Crown Court, Betro was also asked about CCTV showing a 'slim' figure fleeing after the car was dumped. Mr Lewis said: "I'm now going to ask a question a man should never ask a lady, and bearing in mind my own physique, would you describe yourself as slim?" Betro replied: "Not as slim as that person in that...I wouldn't say I was slim." Mr Lewis asked Betro: 'In effect the Crown are saying that Mr Nazir or his father got you involved in a plan to kill, and that you were the person who actually wielded the gun?' Betro answered 'it wasn't me' and added that there was no truth to the allegations made against her. Asserting that she had 'no reason or motive' to carry out the shooting and did not know the intended victim's family, Betro said she would have said no if she had been asked to take part in any plot. After viewing CCTV in court and claiming the person seen in the niqab was not her, Betro said she was in Birmingham city centre at the time of the incident. Asked where she was at the time, Betro said: 'I don't really know where but I didn't leave the centre.' At the time of the second gun-related incident, Betro said of her whereabouts: 'I was out with my friend and his friends – my friend that did work with a music streaming service. 'We just went out – just around the centre. I don't really know where we went. I don't know the names.' Betro also claimed she didn't have a gun on her at any time during the night of September 7 into the early hours of September 8, when three shots were fired at the Yardley property after a woman arrived there in a taxi. Betro told the jury on Monday that she flew into the country 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 denies conspiracy to murder, possessing a self-loading pistol and a charge of fraudulently evading the prohibition on importing ammunition. The 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. Nazir and Aslam, both of Elms Avenue in Derby, had been injured during disorder at Mr Mahumad's clothing boutique in Birmingham in July 2018, jurors have been told, leading them to conspire to have someone kill him or a member of his family. The trial continues.
The Independent
12 hours 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.
The Independent
13 hours ago
- The Independent
US citizen denies being present at the scene of 2019 Birmingham murder plot
An American woman has denied any involvement in a failed assassination plot, telling jurors she never had a gun in her possession at any time during her visit to the UK. Aimee Betro 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. The 45-year-old, from West Allis in Wisconsin, told jurors on Tuesday that she did not know there had been an attempted shooting 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. 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. During her second day of evidence to Birmingham Crown Court, Mr Lewis asked Betro: 'In effect the Crown are saying that Mr Nazir or his father got you involved in a plan to kill, and that you were the person who actually wielded the gun?' Betro answered 'it wasn't me' and added that there was no truth in the allegations made against her. Asserting that she had 'no reason or motive' to carry out the shooting and did not know the intended victim's family, Betro said she would have said no if she had been asked to take part in any plot. After viewing CCTV in court and claiming the person seen in the niqab was not her, Betro said she was in Birmingham city centre at the time of the incident. Asked where she was at the time, Betro said: 'I don't really know where but I didn't leave the centre.' At the time of the second gun-related incident, Betro said of her whereabouts: 'I was out with my friend and his friends – my friend that did work with a music streaming service. 'We just went out – just around the centre. I don't really know where we went. I don't know the names.' 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. She added that she did not have a gun in her possession at any time while in the UK, which she left via Manchester Airport two days after the attempted assassination. Betro told the jury on Monday that she flew into the country 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 denies conspiracy to murder, possessing a self-loading pistol and a charge of fraudulently evading the prohibition on importing ammunition. The 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. Nazir and Aslam, both of Elms Avenue in Derby, had been injured during disorder at Mr Mahumad's clothing boutique in Birmingham in July 2018, jurors have been told, leading them to conspire to have someone kill him or a member of his family. The trial continues.
Yahoo
13 hours 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.
