A man has appeared at Sheffield Crown court today over the alleged murder of PC Sharon Beshenivsky - a police officer and mum who was shot and killed on duty in Bradford in 2005
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Sharon Beshenivsky: Trial to take place next year for man charged with police officer's murder
A man has appeared at Sheffield Crown court today over the alleged murder of PC Sharon Beshenivsky - a police officer and mum who was shot and killed on duty in Bradford in 2005
Pc Sharon Beshenivsky (
Image: BRADFORD POLICE/AFP via Getty Im)
- Plea looks set to be adjourned as court sets trial date10:59
By
Susie BeeverNews Reporter
- Updated13:25, 14 Jul 2023
A man has appeared in court today charged with the murder of PC Sharon Beshenivsky nearly 20 years ago.
PC Beshenivsky was shot while on duty investigating reports of a burglary near Bradford city centre in November 2005.
The mum-of-five, who was due to celebrate her daughter's birthday later that day, tragically died from her injuries. A second police officer, PC Teresa Millburn, was also seriously injured in the shooting.
Piran Ditta Khan was extradited back to the UK in April this year, West Yorkshire Police revealed, after he was arrested in Pakistan.
He appeared at Sheffield Crown court where he was due to plead either guilty or not guilty to the count of murder, but the case has now been delayed until later in the year after no interpreter was available.
As well as murder, Khan, 74, also faces charges of robbery, 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 his alleged possession of a Mac 10 sub-machine gun and a 9mm pistol. All the alleged offences are said to have taken place on the same day, November 18 2005.
Khan is now set to appear for a plea in October, with a provisional trial date set for February 12 next year.
This live blog is now over.
10:59 KEY EVENT
Plea looks set to be adjourned as court sets trial date
Looks as though today's plea is now to be adjourned due to there being no translator available. Khan has appeared over video link from custody, but the case can't progress without a Punjabi interpreter to hand.
Legal discussions are now ongoing, Yorkshire Live reports from court, and a new plea hearing date of October 6 has been set. The court has also set a provisional trial date for Khan for February 12 next year.
10:43Susie Beever
Who was PC Beshenivsky?
PC Sharon Beshenivsky had been serving West Yorkshire Police for only nine months when she died.
A mum of three, and step-mum to two other children, the 38-year-old was working a regular shift on her youngest daughter's fourth birthday on November 18, 2005. She and colleague PC Millburn were sent to investigate reports of an alarm going off at a travel agents on the edge of Bradford city centre when she was shot.
At the time, the incident prompted a national outpouring of grief. Pc Beshenivsky was the seventh female officer to die in the line of duty. Her funeral was held in January the following year and was attended by hundreds.
PC Sharon Beshenivsky died on November 18, 2005. (
Image:
West Yorkshire Police/PA Wire)
10:31Susie Beever
Who is Piran Ditta Khan?
Khan, 74, has appeared in the dock at Sheffield Crown court this morning charged with several serious offences, including the murder of 38-year-old Pc Beshenivsky.
He was extradited from Pakistan earlier this year after being arrested over there in 2020 two years after West Yorkshire Police issued a warrant.
Piran Ditta Khan was extradited in April this year (
Image:
Daily Mirror/Andy Stenning)
10:28Susie Beever
A recap of the story
Here's an overview of the story to refresh your memory.
- Pc Sharon Beshenivsky died in November 2005 after she was called out to a business on Morley Street, Bradford, over reports of a burglar alarm going off. Her colleague PC Teresa Millburn was also shot.
- PC Beshenivsky tragically died of her injuries. Her colleague meanwhile survived although was seriously injured.
- Police later tracked a car apparently fleeing the scene on CCTV, leading to the arrests of six suspects.
- Another suspect, Piran Ditta Khan, was arrested 14 years later in Pakistan and West Yorkshire Police have been trying to get him extradited to face charges in the UK since.
- Khan was extradited in April this year, and now faces court today.
SCUM OF THE EARTH.