Wisconsin Woman Convicted of Attempted Murder
A Wisconsin woman, Amy Betro, was found guilty of attempted murder on Tuesday after being hired to kill a British shopkeeper. At 45 years old and from Westalis, Betro was implicated in a scheme that targeted Sikander Ali outside his Birmingham residence on September 7, 2019, according to UK officials.
The plan to take out Ali reportedly stemmed from a confrontation in July 2018 at a clothing boutique owned by his father, Asurat Mahmad. Interestingly, Betro had met her co-conspirator, Nazir, on a dating app prior to this event.
Chief Inspector of Detective Alasta Aorenkas from the West Midlands Police referred to Betro as “a rather exceptional individual,” expressing disbelief at her actions.
Security footage from the incident showed Betro approaching Ali’s car and firing a gun at point-blank range. It’s claimed she attempted to disguise herself with a headscarf during the act, but her gun malfunctioned, allowing Ali to escape.
Following the shooting attempt, Betro allegedly sent a threatening text to Ali’s father, asking, “Where are you hiding? Stop playing hide and seek; you’re lucky that it’s stuffed.”
Later, she took a taxi to Ali’s home and fired three shots at the empty building before returning home the next day. Prosecutors noted that Betro had traveled to the UK twice after meeting Nazir on the app.
Aorenkas characterized her actions as “brazen,” highlighting the apparent effort she made to avoid being caught.
In October 2019, shortly after the failed hit, she participated in another part of Nazir’s revenge plan against a rival. Authorities reported that she shipped three firearm components to the UK, intended for a man in Derby—an attempt to help Nazir evade the police.
While an innocent man was arrested in connection with this plot, he was later released after it became clear that Nazir had concocted a false narrative.
Investigation revealed Betro’s DNA on the gun parts and ammunition found in a parcel she sent from a post office located 100 miles from her home. Security footage showed her mailing the package under a false name. Although she tried to argue that the woman in the footage was not her, descriptions pointed out that the individual bore a striking resemblance.
In November, Nazir and his father, Mohamed Aslam, received sentences of 32 years and 10 years, respectively, for their involvement. Betro, who had been living in Armenia, was extradited to face trial in the UK in January.
On Tuesday, she appeared in court wearing a purple T-shirt and seemingly unfazed by her verdict. The charges against her included conspiracy to commit murder, possession of a firearm with intent to instill fear, and illegally importing ammunition. Betro is set to be sentenced on August 21.
