An American woman accused of attempting to murder a Birmingham man has told a court she never possessed a gun during her visit to the UK. Aimee Betro denied any involvement in what prosecutors describe as a failed assassination plot in September 2019.
The 45-year-old from West Allis in Wisconsin told Birmingham Crown Court on Tuesday that she was unaware of any attempted shooting when she left Britain two days after the alleged incident. Betro is accused of working with co-conspirators Mohammed Aslam, 56, and his son Mohammed Nabil Nazir, 31, to target a rival family.
Prosecutors detail assassination attempt
Prosecutors allege Betro disguised herself with a niqab when she tried to shoot Sikander Ali at point-blank range outside his home in Measham Grove, Yardley, Birmingham. The gun allegedly jammed, allowing Ali to escape unharmed.
Defence barrister Paul Lewis KC questioned Betro about the evidence against her in chronological order. She maintained she was in Birmingham city centre at the time of both the attempted assassination and a follow-up shooting at the victim's house hours later.
Defendant denies gun possession
Betro also disputed claims that she was the woman with an American accent described as "small and fat" who bought a vehicle linked to the plot. When asked directly about the Crown's allegations, she responded "it wasn't me" and said there was no truth in the charges.
The defendant insisted she had "no reason or motive" to carry out the shooting and did not know the intended victim's family. She told the court she would have refused if asked to participate in any plot.
CCTV evidence disputed
After viewing CCTV footage in court, Betro claimed the person seen wearing a niqab was not her. When asked about her whereabouts during the incident, she said: "I don't really know where but I didn't leave the centre."
Regarding the second gun-related incident, Betro said she was "out with my friend and his friends" in Birmingham city centre. She added: "We just went out - just around the centre. I don't really know where we went. I don't know the names."
Background to the feud
Betro denied having possession of a gun at any time during the night of 7 September into the early hours of 8 September, when three shots were fired at a house in Measham Grove. She left the UK via Manchester Airport two days after the attempted assassination.
The court heard that Betro had flown to Britain to celebrate her birthday and attend a boat party, having met Nazir on a dating app. Aslam and Nazir, both of Elms Avenue in Derby, were jailed last year for their part in the assassination plot.
The conspiracy stemmed from a feud with Ali's father, Aslat Mahumad, following disorder at Mahumad's clothing boutique in Birmingham in July 2018. Nazir and Aslam had been injured during the incident, leading them to conspire to kill Mahumad or a member of his family.
Betro denies conspiracy to murder, possessing a self-loading pistol and fraudulently evading the prohibition on importing ammunition. The trial continues.
(PA) Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
