Man, 75, in court accused of murdering policewoman after being extradited

12 February 2024 , 17:40

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PC Sharon Beshenivsky was aged 38 when she was killed on November 18th, 2005 (Image: PA)

A man accused of murdering PC Sharon Beshenivsky 18 years ago has appeared in the dock for the start of his trial.

Piran Ditta Khan, 75, was extradited from Pakistan last April and attended Leeds Crown Court on Monday for the start of jury selection. He was sat in the glass-lined dock next to an interpreter and flanked by five prison guards.

At a previous hearing Khan, whose address is listed as Jhelum in Pakistan, pleaded not guilty to murder. PC Beshenivsky was the seventh serving female police officer to be killed in the line of duty in Britain.

Mr Justice Hilliard told prospective jurors what the case was about. He told them: “Police Constable Beshenivsky was shot while on duty by one of a group of three men as they emerged from the premises of Universal Express Travel. After carrying out the robbery during which they had stolen a quantity of cash.

Piran Ditta Khan, 75, denies murder and firearms charges (SWNS)

He was extradited from Pakistan last April (Ian Vogler / Daily Mirror)

“With PC Beshenivsky at this time was her colleague PC Teresa Milburn, who was also shot but survived her injuries. The trial will last approximately six weeks and is expected to be completed by the end of March but may take longer…”

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PC Beshenivsky was aged 38 when she was killed on November 18th, 2005 - her daughter's fourth birthday. She and her colleague were responding to an alarm being set off at Universal Travel in Morley Street, Bradford.

The married mum of three was a probationer with only nine months' service when she was killed. PC Teresa Milburn, then 37, was seriously injured. A bullet had hit PC Beshenivsky's chest, punctured her aorta and damaged her spine.

Khan, who left the UK two months after the police officer died, has also denied two counts of possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life and two counts of possession of a prohibited weapon. The firearms charges relate to the alleged possession of a Mac 10 submachine gun and a 9mm pistol.

The submachine gun is said to have been “designed or adapted so that two or more missiles could be successfully discharged without repeated pressure on the trigger”.

Lucy Thornton