A man who was extradited from Pakistan in connection with the murder of Pc Sharon Beshenivsky, which occurred 18 years ago, has formally entered a plea of not guilty to the murder charge.
Piran Ditta Khan, aged 74, has also denied two counts of possession of a firearm with the intent to endanger life and two counts of possession of a prohibited weapon, all alleged to have taken place on November 18, 2005.
Additionally, Khan admitted guilt to one charge of robbery on the same day, specifically related to the robbery of Mohammed Yousaf and the theft of cash.
Legal Proceedings at Leeds Crown Court
Piran Ditta Khan appeared before Leeds Crown Court for a pre-trial hearing.
During the proceedings, a Punjabi interpreter was present to assist him in understanding the legal proceedings, although Khan conveyed his pleas in English.
The court was informed that the two firearms charges center on the alleged possession of a Mac 10 submachine gun and a 9mm pistol.
Khan is also facing charges of possessing a prohibited weapon for each of the firearms.
In particular, the charge concerning the submachine gun specifies that it was allegedly designed or adapted for the discharge of multiple projectiles without the need for repeated trigger pressure.
Remand in Custody and Upcoming Trial
Mr. Justice Hilliard, the presiding judge, participated in the hearing via videolink from the Central Criminal Court in London.
He ordered Khan to be remanded in custody until the next hearing.
The trial for Piran Ditta Khan is scheduled for February of the coming year.
The Tragic Event and Its Impact
The tragic incident in question transpired on November 18, 2005, when Pc Sharon Beshenivsky, aged 38, and a colleague responded to a report of a robbery at Universal Travel in Morley Street, Bradford, West Yorkshire.
At the time of the incident, Pc Beshenivsky, a married mother of three, was a probationer with only nine months of service.
Her colleague, Pc Teresa Milburn, sustained serious injuries during the same event, marking a grim chapter in the history of law enforcement in the region.
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