Man due to go on trial next year accused of murdering PC Sharon Beshenivsky

A provisional trial date has been set for a man accused of murdering PC Sharon Beshenivsky who was shot dead in Bradford in 2005

Hundreds of floral tributes at the scene of the murder of Pc Sharon Beshenivsky, Sunday November 27, 2005.
Author: Katie LyonsPublished 14th Jul 2023
Last updated 14th Jul 2023

A man is due to go on trail next year accused of murdering police constable Sharon Beshenivsky 18 years ago.

Piran Ditta Khan, 74, appeared at Sheffield Crown Court today (Friday 14 July) by video link.

No pleas were entered and the judge, Mr Justice Hilliard, fixed a provisional trial date for February 12 2024 at Leeds Crown Court.

He remanded Khan in custody and said he will appear for another hearing, at Leeds Crown Court, on October 6.

Khan, who appeared on the link from Wakefield Prison, spoke to confirm his name during the 40-minute hearing.

Pc Beshenivsky was aged 38 when she was killed on November 18 2005 after she and a colleague responded to a report of a robbery at Universal Travel in Morley Street, Bradford, West Yorkshire.

The married mother of three was a probationer with only nine months' service when she was killed.

Her colleague, Pc Teresa Milburn, was seriously injured.

Memorial in Bradford for PC Sharon Beshenivsky

Khan is also charged with robbery, two counts of possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life and two counts of possession of a prohibited weapon.

The defendant is accused of robbing Mohammed Yousaf of a quantity of cash of a value unknown.

The firearms charges relate to alleged possession of a Mac 10 submachine gun and a 9mm pistol.

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