Sharon Beshenivsky: Accused 'eating sandwiches' when PC shot - court

Piran Ditta Khan denies the murder of PC Sharon Beshenivsky

The alleged mastermind behind an armed robbery was "eating sandwiches" in a lookout car when a police officer was shot dead, a court heard.

Piran Ditta Khan, 75, is accused of planning a 2005 raid at Bradford's Universal Express travel agents where PC Sharon Beshenivsky was killed.

The West Yorkshire PC, who was 38, was shot as she interrupted the robbery.

Mr Khan, who has admitted a robbery charge, denies murder and four firearms offences at Leeds Crown Court.

Jurors previously heard seven men were involved in carrying out the raid on Morley Street.

Giving evidence on Wednesday, Mr Khan said he was waiting in a Mercedes car with Hassan Razzaq while the raid was being carried out.

Razzaq, whom he had met through a business acquaintance, offered to help him get back £12,000 he was owed by Universal Express owner Mohammad Yousaf, the court heard.

"We were eating sandwiches," he said, with the men fleeing the scene in the wake of the robbery.

PC Beshenivsky died after being shot, with colleague PC Teresa Milburn surviving the attack.

PC Sharon Beshenivsky was 38 when she was shot dead outside Universal Express in Bradford

Mr Khan told the court he did not find out two police officers had been shot until the group got back to a house in Leeds.

When they arrived at the home in Harehills Lane, where they had stayed the previous night, "they were panicking, they were screaming and shouting and roaring," Mr Khan said.

He added: "It was more than shock hearing two police officers were shot."

Mr Khan is accused of masterminding the robbery in November 2005

When asked what they had been doing at the property, Mr Khan said: "There was no celebrations or drinks or dance parties.

"It wasn't a minor thing - people had died."

He denied having organised the events, including where the cars were to be parked during the robbery, telling the court: "It wasn't my planning.

"It must be their planning - all I knew was I needed my money and they were responsible to get that for me."

The jury heard PC Beshenivsky and PC Milburn were shot by one of three men who carried out the robbery, with the gunman then firing indiscriminately as they fled the scene.

Prosecutors allege that although Mr Khan did not leave the car during the raid, he played a "pivotal" role in planning the robbery and knew loaded weapons were going to be used.

The trial continues.