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Police praised after mastermind behind fatal robbery convicted

Document Cited in Related
Vincent
Published date08 April 2024
Publication titleHuddersfield Daily Examiner
Piran Ditta Khan, 75, was found guilty of murder, two counts of possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life and two counts of possession of an offensive weapon after jurors sitting on the lengthy trial at Leeds Crown Court took 18 hours and 44 minutes to deliberate its verdict

Khan managed to evade capture for nearly 20 years before being caught and extradited back to the UK from Pakistan.

After the conviction, Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire, said: "I welcome this verdict and that Khan has finally been brought to justice for the terrible events in Bradford on 18 November 2005.

"West Yorkshire Police should be commended for their tireless work in achieving today's outcome, along with support from the National Crime Agency, the Pakistani Authorities, the Crown Prosecution Service and others. "Ultimately my thoughts remain with Sharon's family, friends and colleagues and I hope that these convictions bring some comfort."

Police constable Sharon Beshenivsky was killed on November 18 2005. She and her colleague PC Teresa Milburn were responding to a report of a robbery at Universal Express travel agents in Bradford.

Prosecutor Robert Smith KC previously told the jury that the two officers were shot at close range by one of three men who had just committed the robbery. The gunman fired indiscriminately as he fled the scene before getting into a nearby car.

The court heard that seven men were involved in the robbery. All had been convicted except Khan. Khan, who is believed to have planned the robbery, flew to Pakistan three months after PC Beshenivsky's death.

Mr Smith told the court that Khan, although not directly involved in the robbery or shooting of PC Beshenivsky, "was responsible for organising this robbery in the knowledge that loaded firearms were to be carried".

He added that during the robbery, Khan "did not leave the safety" of a Mercedes SLK used as a lookout car.

The prosecutor stated that the men who committed the robbery "were disposed...

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