Murderer refuses to name gunmen in 2003 shooting

Sabina Rizvi was shot to death while driving away from a London police station

The convicted murderer of a woman shot dead outside a police station nearly 21 years ago has refused to tell her inquest the names of those who pulled the trigger.

Sabina Rizvi, 25, was killed in the early hours of 20 March 2003 as she drove away from Bexleyheath police station in south-east London.

In 2004, Paul Asbury, then aged 22, was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 20 years after being convicted of her murder.

He was also convicted of the attempted murder of her boyfriend, Mark Williams, a passenger in the car.

On Friday, Asbury gave evidence in the witness box at the Old Bailey at Ms Rizvi's inquest.

Counsel to the inquest Cathryn McGahey KC asked him: "It's right you were prosecuted for the murder of Sabina Rizvi and the attempted murder of Mark Williams?"

Asbury replied: "Correct."

Ms McGahey then asked Asbury - who had pleaded not guilty but was convicted at trial - whether he now accepted he was "responsible for the murder and attempted murder", to which he again replied: "Correct."

The inquest is being heard at the Old Bailey

He told the inquest jury that he did not know who Ms Rizvi was at the time and she had got "caught up in the middle" of a plan to shoot Mr Williams, a convicted drug-dealer.

Ashbury said had been in a car when he spotted Mr Williams in a Nissan Bluebird being driven by Ms Rizvi as they left the police station.

He said he then informed two other people of this and they carried out the shooting at about 02:20 GMT, which he said he did not see.

Ms Rizvi was killed by a bullet that went through her neck.

Mr Williams was shot twice in the head and was left with significant brain injuries affecting his memory.

Asbury told the court that one of the gunmen was now dead and the other was in another country.

He added: "I have not spoken to them since that night when I said that Mark Williams was in the passenger seat of the car."

Ms McGahey asked Asbury if he could give the names of those who pulled the trigger.

Asbury replied: "I don't want to sit here and say names of people because it's got no bearing other than to cause potential risk to myself or members of the public."

The inquest continues, with the jury's conclusion expected in late March.