MASTERMIND

Pensioner accused of PC's murder 'behind robbery that led to death'

- LUCY THORNTON

PIRAN Ditta Khan sent a gang into a robbery knowing guns would be used before rookie police officer Sharon Beshenivsky was shot dead, a court heard yesterday.

The 75-year-old takeaway owner was allegedly the mastermind behind the armed raid on a Universal Express Travel branch in November 2005.

Jurors heard on the first day of Khan's murder trial that PC Beshenivsky, 38, was hit at point blank 30 seconds after arriving on the scene of the robbery when one of the gang members fired "indiscriminately" as they fled the building. Her colleague Teresa Milburn, 37, was seriously injured.

Khan, who left for Pakistan after the killing, was sitting in a car in a nearby street, the court was told.

Prosecutor Robert Smith KC said although he did "not pull the trigger" he is guilty of murdering the officer.