The alleged mastermind of an armed robbery was eating a sandwich in a police car when one police officer was shot dead and another injured, a court heard.

In November 2005, unarmed police officers Sharon Beshenivsky and Teresa Milburn were shot at close range.

They are responding to an attack on Global Express travel agency bradfordWest York.

PC Besheivsky, 38, died from his injuries, while PC Milburn was shot in the chest but survived.

Leeds Crown Court heard a total of seven men were involved in the raid, with alleged ringleader Piran Ditta Khan the last to stand trial in almost two decades.

On Wednesday, Khan, 75, said he was in a Mercedes SLK with a fellow robber, Hassan Razzaq, during the raid.

He told jurors Razzaq, whom he met through a business acquaintance, had offered to help him recover £12,000 owed to him by Universal Express boss Mohammad Yousaf. .

Khan said he believed the men sent by Razak to collect the money would “intimidate” staff there, but he denied knowing anything about the robbery or the use of firearms.

The defendant said that after the robbery, he and Razak were eating sandwiches before driving away from the scene.

“We were eating sandwiches. He said ‘Uncle, close the door’. I closed the door and he drove off,” he said.

Khan said he was unaware that two police officers had been shot dead until the group returned to a house in Leeds.

Prosecutor Robert Smith KC told Khan that another robber called Razak just after 3.30pm, while Razak was in the car with Khan and two police officers “Lying on the sidewalk outside the Global Express.”

Khan said he didn’t hear anything said on the phone and didn’t pay attention.

The defendant denied organizing the event that day, saying: “It wasn’t my plan. It had to be their plan – I just knew I needed my money and it was their duty to get it for me.”

Jurors heard how PC Beshenivsky and PC Milburn were shot by one of three men who had just carried out a robbery, before the gunman opened fire indiscriminately as they fled the scene.

Prosecutors said that although Khan did not leave the police car during the raid, he was guilty of murdering PC Beshenivsky because he played a “key” role in planning the robbery and knew that the loaded weapon was to be used.

They claimed Khan was the only one of the group familiar with Global Express, having previously used the business to send money to family members in Pakistan.

Khan denies murder, two counts of possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life and two counts of possessing a prohibited weapon. He has pleaded guilty to robbery.

The trial continues.