A suspected killer of PC Sharon Beshenivsky who was shot dead during an armed robbery has been remanded into custody after appearing at the Old Bailey for the first time.
Piran Ditta Khan, 74, is facing a string of charges relating an armed raid on Universal Travel in Morley Street, in Bradford, on November 18, 2005.
PC Beshenivsky was among the officers who were called out to reports of a robbery, and died after being shot at point-blank range in the chest.
The married mother-of-three, 38, was a probationer with only nine months’ service when she was killed.
Khan was extradited to the UK from Pakistan and first appeared in the dock at Westminster magistrates court last Thursday.
On Monday, the grey-haired and bearded defendant appeared at the Old Bailey via videolink from HMP Belmarsh, wearing a prison-issue grey tracksuit.
Khan complained before the hearing began that he could not hear properly, and had to be asked twice to confirm his name.
He sat forward on his seat through most of the hearing, listening intently to proceedings as a timetable for his case was set.
The court heard prosecutors are planning to apply for the trial to be switched from London to a crown court in the north east of England.
“He is charged with a number of very serious offences, including the murder of PC Beshenivsky”, said prosecutor Mr Smith.
“The offences in question were committed at Bradford, and the defendant now has to stand trial in respect of the allegations made against him.”
As well as the murder charge, Khan is accused of robbery, two counts of possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life and two counts of possession of a prohibited weapon.
Khan is charged with the robbery of Mohammed Yousaf of a quantity of cash of a value unknown.
The firearms charges relate to alleged possession of a Mac 10 submachine gun and a 9mm pistol.
All the alleged offences are said to have taken place on the same day.
Khan will be assisted by a Punjabi interpreter at future court hearings.
He is due to enter pleas to the charges at a hearing on July 14. A trial date has not yet been set, but Judge Mark Lucraft KC, the Recorder of London, said the Old Bailey could not hear the case until January 2024.
Khan, who was a British citizen at the time of the fatal shooting, was remanded in custody until the next hearing.
