Sharon Beshenivsky: Bradford gang who killed PC were inept, court told

Piran Ditta Khan denies murder and firearms offences

A gang who shot dead a police officer after robbing a travel agent were "absolutely inept", a court heard.

PC Sharon Beshenivsky was killed as she and a colleague responded to reports of the Bradford robbery in November 2005.

The owner of the travel agent said the three men, who were later jailed, were in a "craze" when they demanded cash.

A fourth man, Piran Ditta Khan, 75, denies murder and firearm offences at Leeds Crown Court.

Mr Khan was extradited from Pakistan back to the UK in 2023.

The court has previously heard he did not shoot the police officer but was "responsible for organising" the robbery knowing "loaded firearms were to be carried".

PC Beshenivsky was 38 when she was killed outside Universal Express travel agent in Morley Street.

She had only been an officer for nine months when she was shot in the chest at point blank range by one of the three men fleeing the scene of the robbery.

Her colleague PC Teresa Milburn was also injured but survived.

PC Sharon Beshenivsky was shot dead while responding to reports of a robbery in Bradford in 2005

Prosecutors have said seven men had been involved in planning and carrying out the raid, with Mr Khan the last of the group to face trial.

Witness Waqas Yousaf, who now owns the Universal Express travel agency, told the court the men who raided the business on 18 November seemed "not very organised".

Mr Yousaf, whose father owned the business at the time of the incident, said that one of the men, known to be Muzzaker Shah, shouted: "Don't make me kill on a Friday!

"Who is the youngest? I will kill them!"

He said that Friday was significant as it was a day of prayer for Muslims.

'Inept'

Mr Yousaf told the court that the gang did not know the location of the safe and kept changing the amount of money they demanded, initially wanting £100,000.

He said they appeared not to realise that a business which handled money may have a panic button to alert police.

"They seemed completely inept," he added.

Police forensic officers continue their fingertip search after the shooting of PC Beshenivsky and colleague PC Teresa Milburn in Bradford

Mr Yousaf described how he heard two gunshots immediately after he opened the front door and the three men exited the agency.

He said he knew PC Beshenivsky and that he tried to go and comfort her as she lay on the ground outside but knew she was "very seriously injured".

Mr Yousaf said that he had never directly dealt with Mr Khan but the defendant did use his company's services to send money to Pakistan.

The trial continues.