Extradited US woman accused of gun murder bid plot refused bail by UK court

A US citizen has appeared in court charged with plotting to murder a Birmingham shop owner and firearms offences after being extradited to the UK from Armenia.

Aimee Betro, originally from Wisconsin, is alleged to have been involved in a conspiracy which saw a man threatened with a firearm in the South Yardley area of Birmingham in September 2019.

The 45-year-old, who was arrested last summer in Armenia, is further charged with possessing a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence, and a charge related to the alleged importation of ammunition into the UK.

Betro was flown into Gatwick Airport on Thursday by specialist National Extradition Unit officers from the National Crime Agency’s (NCA) Joint International Crime Centre (JICC).

During a hearing lasting five minutes at Birmingham Magistrates’ Court on Friday, Betro spoke to confirm her name and date of birth, and to give the court her home address as a district on the outskirts of Yerevan.

Wearing black glasses and a grey long-sleeved cardigan, she also thanked the judge after she was remanded in custody.

Her solicitor, Naz Baig, did not apply for bail.

Betro was ordered to appear at Birmingham Crown Court on February 14 after District Judge John Bristow was told she had formally indicated not guilty pleas prior to the hearing to all three charges.

Adjourning the case, the judge told her: “You are charged with three offences – a conspiracy to murder, a possession of a firearm with intent and an offence relating to the unlawful importation of ammunition.

“The first two of those two offences are so serious they can only be dealt with at the Crown Court.

“I am satisfied that the third offence is related to the first two offences. You will appear at the Crown Court on the 14th of February.”

Published: 17/01/2025 by Radio NewsHub