An American woman said to have been involved in a failed assassination attempt in the UK said she was in England to celebrate her birthday.
Aimee Betro told Birmingham Crown Court she visited the UK about two weeks before the shooting in September 2019 and while there she won tickets for a boat party in London.
Betro, 45, is said to been involved in a plot to attack a family. The court has heard she disguised her appearance with a niqab when she tried to shoot Sikander Ali outside his Birmingham home but left when the gun jammed. She allegedly later returned and fired shots into his home.
She denies conspiracy to murder and possessing a firearm with intent.
She also denies the illegal importation of ammunition.
The jury has been told the alleged plot to kill Mr Ali had been orchestrated by co-conspirators Mohammed Aslam, 56, and Mohammed Nabil Nazir, 31, of Elms Avenue in Derby.
Ms Betro told the court she had slept with Nazir at an Airbnb during a visit to the UK spanning December 2018 and January 2019.
She also said she did not meet Nazir, who she said she had feelings for, during a second visit to the UK in May 2019.
She said her first two UK visits had seen her doing “touristy” things such as attending music events.
Her third visit, arriving at Manchester Airport from Atlanta about two weeks before the shooting, had been to celebrate her birthday.
During her evidence, she was asked about messages between her and Nazir which referred to a gun broker website and a silencer.
She said she did not remember the message referring to a broker but told the court she had posted “gaming things” relating to an an old gaming system.
The prosecution said that Ms Betro returned to the scene hours after the shooting and fired three shots into Mr Ali’s house, which was empty at the time, before leaving the UK and flying back to the US the next day.
The court heard father and son Aslam and Nazir were involved in a feud with Mr Ali’s father, Aslat Mahumad.
Nazir was sentenced to 32 years’ imprisonment and Mohammed Aslam was sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment for conspiracy to murder back in November.
The trial continues.
