Robbery victims tell of raid terror

Pc Beshenivsky died when she was shot once in the chest as she responded to an alarm call triggered by shop staff at the Universal Travel Agents in Morley Street, Bradford. A bullet fired from a converted blank-firing 9mm pistol pierced her heart as she approached the travel agent on November 18, 2005.

The mother of three children and two stepchildren had been a serving constable for just nine months. Her colleague, Pc Teresa Milburn, was also gunned down in the street as the robbers tried to escape with the money they had taken.

Mustaf Jama, 28, has admitted one count of robbery. He denies murder, possessing firearms and possessing prohibited weapons. Five other men have already been convicted in connection with Pc Beshenivsky's death.

Faris Khokar, who was working at the family-run Universal Travel, told Newcastle Crown Court his family were held up at gunpoint by three men, and repeatedly given death threats by the robbers. The men were described as two black men and an Asian man, who were later identified as Jama, his brother Yusuf and Muzzaker Shah.

Yusuf Jama and Shah have already been convicted for their part in Pc Beshenivsky's death.

He told the jury he was forced to the ground, had his hands bound, was kicked in the head and beaten with a gun by the robbers who carried two guns and a knife between them. His elderly father, Mohammed Yousaf, was also forced onto the floor and tied up, while his two brothers, Waqas Yousaf and Aqueel Khokar were beaten and restrained.

Two other men, Asim Maqsood, and Mohammed Iqbal, who were visiting the shop owners were also tied up and hit by the gang.

Mr Khokar said the men became increasingly violent because the family was unable to give them the £50,000 they were hoping for. The travel agent's takings had been banked earlier in the day, he told the court.

"There was a lot of commotion," Mr Khokar said. "They said they wanted money. It was something to the effect of: 'give us your money'. He told the court a man he later identified to police as Yusuf Jama had threatened to kill him as he was tying him up. The trial continues.