Our live coverage of the sentencing of US hitwoman, Aimee Betro, has now ended.

The would-be assassin was jailed for 30 years by a judge at Birmingham Crown Court.

You can read more on the story here.

Betro will serve her sentence in the UK prison service, which she may find "particularly difficult," the judge said.

Image source, West Midlands Police

"All her family and friends are in America and she has had very few visits except for her lawyers," he told the court.

In sentencing Betro, Judge Drew said: "So far as mitigation is concerned, I take into account your antecedent history, your age, the fact that you will serve some or all of your sentence in a UK prison, far away from home, and the contents of your letter in which you express remorse for your actions."

Reacting to the sentencing, West Midlands Police said it was a "unique case which has involved a huge amount of work tracing the movements of Betro from her arrival into the UK, her subsequent failed attempt to shoot a man dead, and her departure from the UK".

“It’s by luck that her attempt to kill her target failed, thanks to the jamming of her gun," said Det Ch Insp Alastair Orencas.

Image source, West Midlands Police

An incredible amount of work went into building up a really detailed picture of her activities while in the UK.

"While she was passing herself off as a tourist, posting pictures and video of landmarks such as the London Eye while she was here, her real purpose was to commit murder," he added.

Aimee Betro had been on the run for five years following the assassination attempt before her arrest in 2024.

Image source, West Midlands Police

Her prosecution was a culmination of "years of hard work doggedly pursuing Aimee Betro across countries and borders while she remained relentless in her bid to escape justice," said the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).

The case included incriminating CCTV footage, digital forensics, mobile phone data and evidence from across multiple countries and criminal justice agencies, it said.

An international arrest request for Betro was issued by the UK in June 2024, and this was executed by Armenian authorities weeks later in July 2024. She then appeared in an Armenian court two days later before arriving in the UK to face proceedings.

“Only Betro knows what truly motivated her or what she sought to gain from becoming embroiled in a crime that meant she travelled hundreds of miles from Wisconsin to Birmingham to execute an attack on a man she did not know," added the service.

Aimee Betro failed at her mission to assassinate her long-distance lover's rival - but in the days after her bungled attack, she still believed she could cover her tracks and evade police.

The US woman, who had been on the run for five years, was today jailed for 30 years after being found guilty of conspiracy to murder after trying to shoot dead a Birmingham businessman in 2019 as part of a revenge plot.

But it was a second failed plot, alongside her co-conspirator, to frame an innocent English man for Betro's failed shootings that eventually led to her downfall.

You can read more here.

Image source, West Midlands Police

Judge Drew KC said he was bearing in mind that the American was part of a "complex, well-planned conspiracy to murder".

"You were prepared to pull the trigger and did so on two separate occasions," he added.

He also said he considered the fact Betro was willing to import ammunition into the country.

Following the sentence, we'll bring you more of the remarks from Judge Drew KC.

He told the court that Betro had waited in her car until Sikander Ali, the son of the businessmen with whom the dispute was, arrived home before approaching him on foot and pulling the trigger "six or seven yards away".

The judge said he had "no doubt" Betro would have shot and killed Sikander Ali, had the gun not jammed.

CCTV footage shows Betro's attempted shooting on 7 September 2019 and subsequent shooting in the early hours of 8 September.

In total, Judge Drew KC has sent her to prison for 30 years.

She will have to spend at least two thirds of the sentence in jail.

Betro received an overall sentence of 30 years for conspiracy to murder, however, but she was also jailed for six years for possessing a self-loading pistol with intent to cause fear of violence and two years for illegally importing ammunition.

The two shorter sentences will run concurrently to the longer term.

Betro showed no emotion as Judge Simon Drew KC passed sentence.

"You went beyond simply reaching an agreement to kill and, in reality, you did intend to kill Mr Ali. It is only a matter of chance that Mr Ali wasn't killed," he said.

Image source, West Midlands Police

Image source, West Midlands Police

The judge has now passed his sentence jailing Betro for 30 years after she was found guilty of attempting to shoot a man dead in the UK.

David Lumb
BBC News Online

Betro is sitting in the dock listening to the judge's summing up.

He has described her as taking a "leading role" in the shooting.

She is sitting expressionless.

Her hair is in plaits, she is wearing glasses and is wearing a white top and a black cardigan.

Thirteen people are sitting in the public gallery.

On 7 September 2018, Betro travelled to Birmingham to carry out the attempted assassination, Judge Drew KC said.

He said it was only fortune that the gun jammed on her initial attempt, and so no one was hurt.

She later returned to fire three shots into the home of her victims. The judge again said it was "fortunate" that no one was injured.

Image source, West Midlands Police

While Aimee Betro is being sentenced today, her two co-conspirators have already been jailed for their part in the plot.

Mohammed Nazir and Mohammed Aslam, both from Elms Avenue, in Derby, were sent to prison last year for constructing the plan with the American.

Following the trial, Nazir was found guilty of conspiracy to murder, possession of a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence.

He was also found guilty of perverting the course of justice and illegally importing firearms over a plot to bring guns into the country and then blame it on another person to frame them.

The 31-year-old was sentenced to 32 years in prison.

Aslam, 59, was cleared of a firearms offence, but found guilty of conspiracy to murder. He was jailed for 10 years.

The court has been told by the judge that the plot was "intended to be an execution".

He said he is "quite sure" that the plan was formulated in revenge after Nazir and Aslam were injured during disorder at Mr Mahumad's clothing boutique in July 2018.

Judge Drew KC is now summing up the facts of the case.

He has said he has reviewed the sentence given to Betro's co-conspirators to ensure "fairness and consistency” between the sentences.

Addressing the court, defence barrister Paul Lewis KC said that Betro has been a "model prisoner" during her time in jail.

She was previously of "good character" which could see her sentence shortened by Judge Drew KC.

Defence barrister Paul Lewis, KC, is now giving his submission to the judge.

He has suggested a reduced sentence as she was "recruited into the enterprise" by Mohammed Nazir.

Nazir also "probably provided the gun" that was employed in the course of the shooting, he said.

"He was the instigator and prime mover in what occurred," he tells the court.

He adds there was no evidence of any financial gain by Betro.

Quite what motivated her to become involved was a matter for the judge's assessment, he says.

The only explanation was her infatuation with Mr Nazir, he adds.

Concluding their arguments, prosecutors said Betro is of 'high culpability' due to her possessing a firearm.

They again encourage the judge to follow similar sentencing steps to those that were used for Nazir, who was jailed alongside his son, Mohammed Aslam, at the same court.

No victim impact statements have been read out.

Aimee Betro has entered the court, confirming her name, and is sitting in the dock awaiting sentence.

Prosecution counsel is making submissions as to aggravating features the judge should take into account when sentencing her.

Prosecutors have told Judge Simon Drew KC that Betro played a "leading role" in the plot.

They have asked that the judge take a similar approach to sentencing as was taken with Mohammed Nazir in 2024, who was jailed for 32 years.