(West Midlands Police/Supplied)
A hired killer from the US disguised herself with a hijab before attempting to shoot a man and his family in Birmingham, a court has heard. Aimee Betro, 44, a hitwoman from Chicago, was enlisted by Mohammed Nazir, 30, and his father Mohammed Aslam, 56, to carry out a revenge killing against Sikander Ali, the owner of a boutique clothing store, and his family.
However, Ms. Betro’s weapon malfunctioned as she tried to shoot Sikander Ali outside a house on Measham Grove, Acocks Green, on September 7, 2019. Prosecutor Kevin Hegarty KC told Birmingham Crown Court that Ms. Betro, dressed in a traditional Muslim head covering, was parked in a Mercedes when Mr. Ali arrived in an Audi, reported The Telegraph.
“As he did, the would-be assassin came from the driver’s side of the Mercedes,” he said. “As she left the Mercedes, she left the driver’s door open. She walked quite calmly towards Sikander Ali and was pointing a gun at him at head height.” Hegarty continued, “As she got closer to Sikander Ali, he saw her and the gun. She pulled the trigger to fire the gun at him. Mercifully and luckily for him, the gun jammed.”
Mr. Ali quickly reversed his car to escape, while Ms. Betro also fled, abandoning the car nearby. Police later found the vehicle. The following morning, Ms. Betro returned to the address in a taxi and fired three shots in the direction of the house before leaving. Fortunately, no one was injured in the incident.
Ms. Betro also sent threatening text messages to Mr. Ali’s father, Aslat Mahamud, who was the principal target of the hit. She messaged, “Where are you hiding?” and “Stop playing hide and seek.” Ms. Betro fled back to the US two days later and is believed to still be on the run. However, police apprehended Nazir and Aslam and charged them in connection with the attempted assassination.
The father and son from Derby were found guilty of conspiracy to murder. Nazir was also convicted of possession of a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence, illegally importing firearms, and perverting the course of justice. Jurors learned that the pair held a grudge against Mr. Ali’s family following a dispute at their clothing store in 2018 that left both conspirators injured.
Determined to exact revenge, they hired Ms. Betro, who flew to the UK on August 22, 16 days before the shooting. She contacted Mr. Mahamud by pretending to be interested in buying a car he was selling. A West Midlands Police spokesman commented, “Aslam and Nazir were determined to take revenge following a fallout where they were injured.
The lengths they went to in trying to make sure they weren’t implicated in pulling the trigger are immense. However, thanks to some great police work and support from our Derbyshire colleagues, we were able to place them firmly in the middle of the attempted murder plot.” Nazir and Aslam are scheduled to be sentenced on August 9.
