Father and Son Imprisoned for Birmingham Murder Conspiracy

A father and son have been incarcerated after “recruiting” a woman from the United States as part of a scheme to assassinate a Birmingham shopkeeper. Mohammed Nazir, aged 30, received a 32-year sentence for conspiracy to murder, whereas Mohammed Aslam, 56, was informed he would serve a 10-year term. Aslam and Nazir sought to eliminate the proprietor of a clothing establishment following a 2018 altercation that resulted in injuries to both of them. Aimee Betro, identified as a US citizen and a suspected contract killer, is presently detained in Armenia and is the subject of an extradition request. Ms Betro reportedly tried to shoot the shopkeeper’s son during the assault, which occurred at a residence in South Yardley on 7 September 2019, but the firearm malfunctioned. The father and son, residents of Elms Avenue in Derby, were found guilty after a trial held at Birmingham Crown Court during the summer. Nazir was convicted of conspiracy to murder and possessing a firearm with intent to instill fear of violence. Additionally, he was found guilty of perverting the course of justice and unlawfully importing firearms. Aslam was acquitted of a firearms charge but was convicted of conspiracy to murder. Testimony in court revealed that the father and son, who smiled at their family members while in the dock, had participated in a “serious disorder” in Alum Rock in July 2018, an incident in which both suffered severe injuries. Aslam, specifically, sustained brain injuries, a condition that continues to impact his cognitive abilities. The 2018 occurrence involved shopkeeper Mahumad Aslat and his family members, resulting in the windows of the defendant’s family residence in Derby being shattered later on the same day, according to court proceedings. Judge Simon Drew stated that the precise reason for the families’ disagreement remained unknown, but it had served as the impetus for the 2019 conspiracy. The judge clarified that Nazir had enlisted Ms Betro to execute a “deliberate and planned” retaliatory assault on Mr Aslat and his family, which would have “amounted to an execution”. “I think that it would be overstating the case to call what took place a contract killing, however the evidence suggests Aimee Betro was rewarded for taking part,” the judge stated. He added, “That seems to be the most likely explanation for why she became involved.” Ms Betro traveled by air to the UK from her residence near Chicago in late August 2019. She reportedly lodged at the Rotunda in Birmingham following a short tour of England, a portion of which was financed by Nazir. On 7 September, she is accused of having driven to Measham Grove in South Yardley, with Nazir and Aslam trailing her in a distinct vehicle. The court was informed that Ms Betro remained at the location for a “considerable” duration after the father and son had departed. The judge clarified that it was uncertain whether she recognized her intended target, but CCTV footage subsequently depicted her trying to shoot at Mr Aslat’s son, Sikander Ali, who managed to enter a vehicle and flee. The residence was subsequently fired upon three times, according to court testimony. “The two of you had done everything you could to encourage and enable Aimee Betro to kill a member of Mr Aslat’s family, whether that was Mr Aslat himself or one of his close relations.“It was only a matter of chance Sikander Ali was not killed. He was shot at close range, almost point blank.” Court proceedings revealed that Nazir subsequently spent a month with Betro in the United States before his return and arrest at a UK airport on 13 October. Andrew Selby KC, representing Nazir, stated that his client possessed strong family and community connections, and that his offenses were “wholly out of character”. Benjamin Nolan KC, acting on behalf of Aslam, asserted that his client assumed “very much a secondary role in the conspiracy.” However, following the pronouncement of the sentence, Hannah Sidaway of the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) characterized the events as “a methodical and well planned attack against the victim’s family.” She further stated: “The offenders tried to cover their tracks by using a third party and burner devices to avoid detection.“In the plan to discharge a loaded firearm, their intention to kill was clear.” The CPS affirmed its ongoing collaboration with Armenian authorities to advance the extradition request for Ms Betro via their judicial system. Updates from BBC Birmingham are available on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X, and Instagram. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content found on external websites. Information regarding our external linking policy is available.