Gang member is convicted of murdering PC Beshenivsky

A 20-year-old gang member has been convicted of the murder of Sharon Beshenivsky, the Yorkshire police officer shot at point-blank range during a bungled robbery last year.

Yusuf Abdillh Jamma, 20, from Small Heath, Birmingham, was found guilty yesterday, at the end of an 11-week trial at Newcastle Crown Court, of shooting the 38-year-old officer.

PC Beshenivsky was killed when she responded to a robbery at the Universal Express travel agency in Bradford city centre on 18 November 2005, the day of her youngest daughter's fourth birthday. A colleague, PC Teresa Milburn, was also shot as the robbers escaped with £5,000.

Muzzaker Imtiaz Shah, 25, had already admitted PC Beshenivsky's murder, but was cleared of the attempted murder of PC Milburn, who was seriously injured in the attack.

PC Milburn told the court: "I was stood slightly behind Sharon. Sharon was covering the left side. I caught a glimpse of him [the gunman], then I heard, I heard a bang. Sharon fell to the ground and I got a view of an Asian male. He was stood directly opposite Sharon. I saw in his hand he had a gun. It was a black, smooth gun."

She told of the immense pain she felt after she was shot at close range: "I was lying on the floor. I was coughing up blood. I could feel blood running down my nose and blood over my face, and I was gasping for breath."

The brothers Faisal and Hassan Razzaq were also convicted yesterday of PC Beshenivsky's manslaughter. Raza Ul-Haq Aslam, 25, was cleared of manslaughter and murder, although the jury is still considering charges of robbery.

Jamma, Faisal Razzaq and his brother, Hassan, both from Forest Gate, east London, showed no reaction as the jury returned its verdicts. Two other men who police believe were involvedremain at large.