Jury deliberates in case of man accused of killing police officer during armed robbery plot

Pc Sharon Beshenivsky was shot and killed during an armed robbery at a family-run travel agency in Bradford in November 2005. Jurors are currently deliberating on whether Piran Ditta Khan, alleged to be the mastermind behind the raid, is guilty of her murder. Prosecutors claim Khan played a key role in planning the robbery and directing the other armed men involved. He was in a lookout car during the robbery and was familiar with the business where the robbery took place.

Khan denies knowing about the robbery or that weapons would be used during the robbery. He claims that the motive for the robbery was a debt owed to him by the business owner and that he only expected the staff to be intimidated or slapped, rather than seriously harmed. The judge instructed the jury that Khan could be guilty of murder if he encouraged the primary robbers to take part and intended serious harm to be caused during the robbery and escape with the proceeds. Khan is the last of seven men involved in the robbery to face trial, as the others have already been convicted of various offenses related to the incident.

Khan flew to Pakistan shortly after Pc Beshenivsky’s death and was arrested by Pakistani authorities in 2020 before being extradited to the UK in 2021. He has denied the murder charges against him but has pleaded guilty to robbery. The jury has been tasked with determining whether he intentionally encouraged the robbery and intended harm to be caused during the incident. The prosecution argues that Khan’s role in planning and directing the robbery makes him just as guilty as if he had physically pulled the trigger himself.

The trial has highlighted the tragic death of Pc Sharon Beshenivsky and the impact it had on her family and colleagues. Her colleague, Pc Teresa Milburn, was also seriously injured during the robbery. The armed men involved fled the scene with around £5,400 in cash, leading to a widespread manhunt to capture those responsible. The jury heard testimony from Khan himself, who claimed that he did not anticipate the violent outcome of the robbery and only wanted his debt to be repaid.

The judge presented the jury with the legal parameters for a murder conviction, emphasizing the importance of intent and encouragement of serious harm during the commission of the robbery. If the jury finds Khan guilty of these charges, he could face severe penalties for his role in Pc Beshenivsky’s death. The trial has shed light on the complexities of criminal responsibility and the consequences of violent crimes, particularly those involving law enforcement officers. The outcome of the trial will have significant implications for both the defendant and the victim’s family and loved ones.