Beshenivsky jury fails to agree verdict

A retrial will be held for a robber accused of murdering Pc Sharon Beshenivsky who was shot during a botched armed raid, a judge said today.

Mustaf Jama, 28, denied the charge and a jury at Newcastle Crown Court was unable to reach a verdict after it started deliberating on Monday morning.

Mr Justice Openshaw discharged the jury and said: "It is obvious to all of us the care and attention you have given to this trial."

During the trial, the prosecution alleged he was as guilty as his brother Yusuf and their friend Muzzaker Shah, the gunman, who have already been convicted of murder.

In his defence, Jama admitted joining them to rob the Universal Express travel agency in Bradford in November 2005, but said he did not know that Shah was armed with a machine gun and pistol.

Pc Beshenivsky was shot as she responded to an alarm call, and died from her injuries.

Her colleague Pc Teresa Milburn was also shot, but survived.

Mustaf Jama said he fled to his native Somalia in the aftermath of the shooting, and the court heard he was extradited "involuntarily" in 2007.

He has admitted one charge of robbery, and denies two further firearms charges.

Pc Beshenivsky was a popular officer, mother of three and stepmother of two, who was murdered on her youngest daughter's fourth birthday.

A date will be set for the retrial later.