Extradited pensioner from Pakistan denies police officer's murder

06 October 2023 , 20:11

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PC Sharon Beshenivsky in uniform (Image: SWNS)

A pensioner extradited from Pakistan has denied murdering police officer Sharon Beshenivsky.

Piran Ditta Khan, 74, is accused of being involved in the deadly robbery of a travel agent 18 years ago. He pleaded not guilty to the officer’s murder or having a submachine gun on November 18, 2005.

Leeds crown court heard he denied two counts of possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life and two counts of possession of a prohibited weapon. He admitted one count of robbery – which relates to robbing Mohammed Yousaf of a quantity of cash.

Bearded Khan had a Punjabi interpreter at the pre-trial hearing, but gave pleas in English. At an earlier hearing, it was suggested he had difficulty hearing. The court heard the firearms charges relate to alleged possession of a Mac 10 submachine gun and a 9mm pistol.

Piran Ditta Khan has denied murdering the police officer (Ian Vogler / Daily Mirror)

Khan also faces a charge of possession of a prohibited weapon for each firearm. The submachine gun charge states it was allegedly “designed or adapted so two or more missiles could be successfully discharged without repeated pressure on the trigger”.

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Judge Mr Justice Hilliard, appearing by videolink from the Old Bailey, remanded Khan in custody until his next hearing. He is due to go on trial in February next year which is expected to last six weeks.

PC Beshenivsky, 38, was shot while responding to a robbery at Universal Travel in Bradford, West Yorks. Colleague PC Teresa Milburn was seriously injured. It is believed Khan, who was extradited from Pakistan in April, owns Indian restaurants in Scotland.

Lucy Thornton