American woman denies shopkeeper murder plot

An American woman has denied plotting to murder a Birmingham shop owner and members of his family.

Charges faced by Aimee Betro, 45, follow events in the South Yardley area of the city in September 2019 in which, police said, a man was threatened at gunpoint.

Appearing via video link at Birmingham Crown Court on Friday, Ms Betro spoke only to enter three not guilty pleas to charges of conspiracy to murder, possessing a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence, and a separate charge related to the alleged importation of ammunition into the UK.

A trial is due to begin on 21 July.

Betro, originally from the US state of Wisconsin, had been extradited from Armenia after being arrested there last summer.

The conspiracy charge covers a period ranging between 21 August and 10 September 2019, while the firearms offence is alleged to have been committed on 8 September of the same year.

The ammunition smuggling charge relates to a period between 12 September and 23 October.

Ms Betro, wearing glasses and a striped casual long-sleeved top, appeared sitting behind a desk in a prison video booth during the 12-minute hearing.

She was remanded into custody ahead of a pre-trial review hearing set for 3 April.

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