American woman has been found guilty in the United Kingdom for her role in a failed assassination attempt linked to a long-standing family feud.
Aimee Betro, from West Allis, Wisconsin, was convicted of conspiracy to murder after attempting to shoot a British man at point-blank range in Birmingham in 2019. Her gun jammed during the attack, allowing the intended target, Sikander Ali, to escape unharmed.
Betro, now 37, arrived in the UK as part of a revenge plot orchestrated by two British men—Mohammed Nazir and his father, Mohammed Aslam—against businessman Aslat Mahumad. The motive stemmed from a violent incident at Mahumad’s clothing store in 2018, in which both men were injured.
Disguised in a niqab, Betro waited outside the family’s home in a vehicle purchased earlier that day using a false identity. When Ali arrived, she exited the car and attempted to shoot him. The gun malfunctioned, and Ali managed to flee in his SUV. Hours later, Betro returned to the scene and fired three shots through the windows of the empty house.
Messages she later sent to Mahumad included:
“Where are you hiding?” and “Stop playing hide and seek, you are lucky it jammed.”
Despite her central role in the plot, authorities noted that Betro had no significant criminal history prior to the incident. During the trial, she denied all charges and claimed she was elsewhere at the time of the attacks. She also disputed the claim that she purchased the car or had any connection to Nazir and Aslam.
Verdict and Sentencing
After nearly 21 hours of deliberation, a jury at Birmingham Crown Court convicted Betro by a majority of 11–1 on the conspiracy to murder and firearm charges, and unanimously on the charge of illegally importing ammunition. She showed no visible emotion as the verdicts were read. Sentencing is scheduled for August 21.
International Manhunt and Arrest
Following the failed attack, Betro fled the UK and remained on the run for nearly five years. She was eventually tracked to Armenia and extradited to face trial. Her capture was partly credited to an investigation by the Daily Mail, which located her hideout. Detective Chief Inspector Alastair Orencas of the West Midlands Police publicly thanked the publication for its role in the case.
Orencas stated that the failed assassination was only prevented by the weapon’s malfunction and criticized Betro’s poor attempt at disguise, noting that surveillance footage, phone records, and her footwear gave her away.
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Source: The Ghana Report
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