A pensioner accused of murdering PC Sharon Beshenivsky 18 years ago was the mastermind behind the fatal robbery, it has been claimed.
Piran Ditta Khan, 75, had a "pivotal" role in planning the robbery, Leeds crown court heard today. He is standing trial after being extradited from Pakistan last April. At a previous hearing Khan, whose address is listed as Jhelum in Pakistan, pleaded not guilty to the murder of the police officer and possession of various weapons
Prosecutor Robert Smith KC, told the jury today: "The defendant was responsible for organising this robbery." He told how six men had already been tried and convicted of various offences including; murder, manslaughter and robbery and possession of firearms with intent to endanger life and possession of a prohibited weapon
Mr Smith added: “Piran Ditta Khan is the last man from this group of men to face trial for this police officer’s murder and possession of the firearm that was used to commit it." He told jurors: "The defendant was not one of the men who physically carried out the robbery. The defendant, in fact, did not leave the safety of the Mercedes SLK at any time during the robbery. He remained at a safe distance.
Pc Sharon Beshenivsky (PA)
Former West Yorkshire Police detective chief superintendent Andy Brennan arrives at Leeds Crown Court (PA)"But, the prosecution say, the role in these offences was pivotal and the part that he played is as such that... he is also guilty of the murder of police officer Beshenivskly."
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Khan, the court heard, had used Universal Travel Express himself to send money back to his relatives in Pakistan and knew they kept a large quantity of cash on the premises. Mr Smith said Khan would have also been aware of the security arrangements at the property and the number of people who worked there.
“He knew that it would not be possible to carry out an effective robbery at this address without the use of hired men who would need to carry firearms,” he said. He explained to the jury, the business was very near a police station and was not easy to get inside. The court heard you had to enter a lobby which was controlled by an electronic lock.
Piran Ditta Khan appearing in the dock at an earlier hearing (PA)
Court artist drawing by Elizabeth Cook of Piran Ditta Khan appearing at Leeds Crown Court (PA)Mr Smith said it needed a “careful degree of planning”. The court heard on the 18th November 2005, just over 18 years ago Police Constable Sharon Beshenivsky was murdered while on duty as a serving police officer in the city of Bradford.
Her husband, Paul Beshenvisky, arrived at court today for the start of the trial. The court heard her colleague, PC Teresa Milburn, who was on duty with her, sustained serious injuries but managed to pass on vital information despite her wounds. Mr Smith said: “Both police officers were shot at almost point blank range by one of three men, all of whom had just committed an armed robbery at a firm of travel agents Universal Travel Express.
"Neither officer was armed and neither of them presented any effective threat to the three men in question. These three men then ran away from the scene, one of them firing a weapon indiscriminately into the street as they did so." He said, as they got in a hired car nearby, heading for a safe house in Leeds, PC Beshenivsky died of her injuries on the pavement just outside the premises.
She was killed in 2005 (BRADFORD POLICE/AFP via Getty Im)
A wanted poster was released after her death (SWNS)The court heard three vehicles were involved in the robbery, with some acting as lookouts. Mr Smith told how Khan "evaded" justice by fleeing to Pakistan. He said: "Piran Ditta Khan evaded arrest by leaving the country in January 2006 on a flight from London Heathrow to Islamabad where he remained at liberty until January 2020 when he was arrested and detained by Pakistan authorities. The British Government had by then made a request to the Government of Pakistan for the arrest of this man."
He was extradited last April. Khan is charged with murder and possession of firearms including a mac- 10 pattern submachine gun with intent to endanger life, a 9mm pistol and a a Mac-10 submachine gun designed or adapted so two or more missiles in quick succession.
The officers were shot 30 seconds after arriving at the scene of a robbery, the court has heard. The shot that killed PC Sharon Beshenivsky, 38, was “immediately fatal” and she had “no chance of survival”. She’d only been on the West Yorkshire Police force as an officer for nine months.
Her colleague, Teresa Milburn, was the second to be shot with the pistol and “heard the bang” and felt “immense pain”. Going into details of the robbery, the prosecutor told how the three men who raided the travel agents had treated the staff inside “brutally”.
Robert Smith KC said: “The three men carried out this robbery threatening and assaulting the staff at Universal Express and treating them brutally. Inside the premises one of the three men discharged the machine gun but when firing the weapon it jammed.
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“On leaving the premises they were confronted by two uniformed officers who posed no threat to them whatsoever one of them fired the pistol at the officers.”
The court heard how PC Beshenivsky and PC Milburn had been on duty in a marked police patrol car at 3.24pm when a personal attack alarm was activated at Universal Express by one of the staff. A call went out over the radio, the court heard and the officers waited to see if anyone else responded.
When nobody responded, PC Milburn switched on the two tone sirens, turning them off as she turned the car into Morley Street and they stopped opposite the travel agents. Within 30 seconds both officers had been shot,” Mr Smith said.
The prosecutor said Khan was the “organiser of this robbery” and even though he “did not pull the trigger” is guilty of murdering Sharon Beshenivsky. He “shared a common intention” with the three men who robbed the business. The prosecutor told how the defendant had pleaded guilty to robbery but said: “This does not actively reflect what he is proved to be responsible for.”
The court also heard that hours before the robbery he told another of the men he was allegedly working with that they would make a minimum of £50,000 and maximum of £100,000. Khan denies all charges against him, the trial continues.
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