Man found guilty of murdering PC Sharon Beshenivsky in Bradford

A man’s been found guilty of murdering PC Sharon Beshenivsky in Bradford.

The mother-of-three was shot at point blank range whilst responding to reports of a robbery at a travel agents in November 2005. She was nearing the end of her shift, ready to go home and celebrate her youngest daughter’s fourth birthday.

We've been taking a look back at the case - including speaking to eyewitnesses who saw the shooting:

PC Beshenivsky's colleague PC Teresa Milburn was also shot and seriously injured.

The prosecution said Piran Ditta Khan was the mastermind behind a raid at the family-run Universal Express travel agents on Morley Street.

Three armed men carried out the robbery and fled the scene with around £5,400 in cash.

Khan, 75, was said to be the group's ringleader, playing a "pivotal" role in planning the raid and giving instructions to the others.

Prosecutors say this made him guilty of Pc Beshenivsky's murder "as surely as if he had pulled the trigger himself".

Jurors at Leeds Crown Court heard how Khan was in a lookout car with another of the robbers, Hassan Razzaq, while the raid was being carried out.

Prosecutors say he was the only one of the group who was familiar with Universal Express and had been using the business for years to transfer money to family in Pakistan.

Khan denied knowing that a robbery was going to be committed, or that weapons were going to be taken to Universal Express that day.

He claimed the motive for the robbery was that the business's owner, Mohammad Yousaf, owed him £12,000, and that debt collector Razzaq offered to get his money back when the pair met through a business associate.

Khan said he thought the men Razzaq sent would simply "intimidate" the staff or, at most, "slap" them.

Khan is the last of the seven men involved in the robbery to face trial.

He flew to Pakistan two months after Pc Beshenivsky's death and remained there before being arrested by Pakistani authorities in 2020 and extradited to the UK last May.

The other members of the group have been convicted of offences including murder, manslaughter, robbery and firearms offences.

Khan pleaded guilty to robbery, telling his trial this was because the armed men had gone for his money and "it was my mistake to tell them".

Speaking outside court today Senior Investigating Officer Detective Superintendent Marc Bowes of West Yorkshire Police said:

“Today as always, our thoughts remain with PC Sharon Beshenivsky and her family, Sharon went to work to protect the public, she responded to a call for help alongside her colleague Teresa but tragically never came home.

“This verdict today is the culmination of 18 years of hard work, tenacious grit and determination to bring Khan before the courts.

“Throughout this investigation we left no stone unturned and after several trials and convictions the final suspect Khan has been found guilty of these heinous crimes.

“This has been a complex case with many hurdles along the way but throughout all the challenges we never gave up.

“This truly was a team effort, and we would not be here today without the help from the National Crime Agency, the CPS, the Home office, The Pakistani Authorities and other forces who have helped over the years in this investigation.

“I would like to extend my deepest sympathies to Sharon’s family, to Teresa, and all who were affected by the events of that day.

“Today marks the end of the trial and of an ordeal which began some 18 years ago I would like to praise Sharon’s family for their bravery throughout. We will always remember the ultimate sacrifice made by PC Sharon Beshenivsky in the line of duty.”