Man who ‘masterminded’ robbery that left PC Sharon Beshenivsky dead ‘partied with prostitutes & champagne before horror’
THE alleged mastermind of an armed robbery that left a cop dead partied with champagne and prostitutes the night before the shooting, a court heard.
PC Sharon Beshenivsky, 38, was shot dead while responding to an armed robbery at a travel agents in Bradford, West Yorkshire, in 2005.
Her colleague PC Teresa Milburn, who was 37 at the time, was left seriously injured after a gunman opened fire "indiscriminately" as he fled the scene, jurors heard.
Piran Ditta Khan is on trial charged with murder, two counts of possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life and two counts of possession of a prohibited weapon.
The 75-year-old, who is accused of planning the robbery, spent the evening before partying at a "safe house" wit his accomplices, jurors heard today.
They were allegedly "elated" and shouting "let's go do it" just hours before the killing.
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Leeds Crown Court was told the gang had brought a 9mm self-loading pistol, MAC-10 machine gun and large kitchen knife to the property in Bradford from London.
A workman at the home, which was being refurbished to house asylum seekers, was shown the guns and ammunition to be used in the fatal raid, it was said.
The court heard that Francois Baron was warned if he spoke about it, his life would be "in danger".
Prosecutor Robert Smith KC said: "Francois Baron learned that the defendant was known by the name ‘Uncle’ and he referred to him afterwards and thereafter.
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“Champagne, vodka and Coca Cola were consumed by the group. A minibus was sent for and the five men, together with Francois Baron, went to a brothel in Leeds.”
The court heard the men were each handed £80 to spend on "entertainment and sex" at a brothel.
They then returned to the safe house and ordered a takeaway from Charcoal Chicken before going to sleep, it was said.
Mr Baron allegedly heard the men the following morning discussing the robbery and asking Khan if it was "safe".
He told them it was before promising they could get a maximum of £100,000 in the raid, jurors heard.
At around 2.30pm, the group made their way to the travel agents in a convoy of three cars.
Jurors heard Khan is not one of the three men who carried out the raid and did not shoot mum PC Beshenivsky.
He "did not leave the safety" of a Mercedes SLK which was being used as a lookout car, it was said.
FATAL SHOOTING
Khan allegedly masterminded the robbery "in the knowledge that loaded firearms were to be carried", the prosecutor said.
The court was told the robbers were "disposed to use their firearms to kill or to seriously injure anyone who stood in their way… something of which the defendant would have been well aware".
Mr Smith added: "The part [Khan] played was such that the prosecution contends he is also guilty of the murder of Sharon Beshenivsky."
Both PC Beshenivsky and PC Milburn were unarmed and posed no threat when they were scrambled to the building.
As the fallen officer made her way into the building, one of the men stretched his hand out and pointed at her.
'IMMENSE PAIN'
Mr Smith said: "After this man shot Sharon Beshenivsky, Teresa Milburn saw him move his pistol towards her.
"She heard a bang and felt immense pain. She knew immediately she had been shot."
PC Beshenivsky's injury was immediately fatal, while her colleague managed to radio for help while coughing up blood, jurors heard.
Six men have been convicted over the botched robbery, with Khan now the seventh to go on trial.
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He was brought back to the UK last year following an extradition request from the government.
Khan denies the charges. The trial continues.
