A dating app, a niqab and a 9mm gun - how a US woman was hired to end a UK family feud

Aimee Betro, a woman from Wisconsin in the United States, was found guilty of trying to kill a man in Birmingham, UK, in a case that shocked both countries. Betro had no previous criminal record and was described by police as 'fairly unexceptional. ' The reason she became involved in such a serious crime remains unclear. The story began in 2018 when a fight broke out in a clothes shop in Birmingham's Alum Rock area. Mohammed Aslam and his son Mohammed Nabil Nazir were injured during the fight, which started a violent feud between their family and the family of Aslat Mahumad, the shop owner. The court heard that Aslam and Nazir wanted revenge and conspired to have someone kill Mahumad or a member of his family. They turned to Betro, who had met Nazir through a dating app and had visited the UK before. Betro, who studied childhood development and graphic design, arrived in the UK in August 2019. She stayed in hotels in London, Manchester, Derby, and Birmingham, meeting with Aslam and Nazir at different times. On the day of the attack, Betro bought a second-hand Mercedes under a false name and drove with Aslam and Nazir to Measham Grove, where Mahumad lived. She disguised herself with a niqab and waited for Sikander Ali, Mahumad's relative. When Ali arrived, Betro pointed a 9mm gun at him and pulled the trigger, but the gun jammed, saving his life.

After the failed attempt, Betro fled the scene but returned later that night and fired three shots at the family home, shattering windows. She then left for Manchester Airport and flew back to the US. Nazir followed her days later, and they went on a road trip across America. Betro claimed she did not know about the shooting and said another American woman was responsible. The investigation took several years and involved the FBI, the National Crime Agency, and two UK police forces. The search for Betro was complicated by the pandemic, but she was eventually found in Armenia and extradited to the UK.

During the trial, Betro denied her involvement, saying it was a coincidence that she was near the scene. She claimed another woman with similar features and clothing was responsible. However, the jury found her guilty of conspiracy to murder after 21 hours of deliberation. Detective Chief Inspector Alastair Orencas described Betro as 'extremely dangerous and extremely motivated to cause the worst harm to people. ' He said her actions were not random but carefully planned with others across continents. There was no evidence that Betro was paid or acted out of loyalty to Nazir, but the police saw it as a criminal association and a murderous plot. Aslam and Nazir were jailed, and Betro will be sentenced soon. This case highlights how family feuds can escalate into serious crimes and how international cooperation is sometimes needed to bring criminals to justice.