Mustaf Jama was unanimously found guilty by a jury at Newcastle Crown Court yesterday
following a retrial, after a previous jury could not reach verdicts.

The Somalian was part of a gang who gunned down the 38-year-old mother of three and wounded her colleague Pc Teresa Milburn when they answered a call to the travel agency Universal Express in Morley Street, Bradford on November 18, 2005.

Jama fled to his native country after the raid but was brought back to face justice in 2007.

Jama's brother Yusuf and gangleader Muzzaker Shah are already serving the same sentence for the murder. He admitted in court he was one of the three robbers who entered the premises but claimed not to know about the weapons.

The 29-year-old's account was rejected by the jury, who also found him guilty of four other charges over the possession of a 9mm pistol and a Mach 10 sub-machine gun.

Jailing him Mr Justice Openshaw criticised Jama for putting the dead officer's family through another trial following that of his brother and Shah .

He said: "His flight has made it necessary for the victims, including of course the family of Sharon Beshenivsky and Pc Milburn and, indeed, the victims of the robbery to go through the distressing ordeal of a second trial."

The judge added that, although there were flaws, the robbery was well planned "and executed with ruthlessness".

It was "inconceivable" there would not have been a detailed briefing about the firearms to be used before it took place, he said.

Shah is believed to have fired the fatal shot, although Jama's brother Yusuf claimed in court to have been responsible.

The judge said all those who entered the travel agency was equally culpable for the terrible consequences that day.

The trio entered believing that up to £100,000 could be inside but after terrorising staff and tying some of them up they fled with only a few thousand pounds, confronting the officers outside.

Expressing his sympathy to the dead officer's widower, Paul Beshenivsky, the trial judge said: "The impact that the murder of Sharon Beshenivsky has had upon him and their five children will no doubt continue to be felt for the rest of their lives."

He also took into account the grave effect on Pc Milburn, who is still a serving police officer.

Paying tribute to the two officers he said: "They only did their duty and paid a terrible price."

As the jury returned its verdicts Mr Beshenivsky comforted Pc Milburn in the public gallery.

Jama did not react when the minimum term was passed but made a single finger gesture towards police officers in the public gallery when convicted.

Det Supt Andy Brennan, who spent months helping to get the extradition process in order to ensure Jama's return from Somalia said: "That is typical of him. He has never shown any remorse for what they did.

"It is very satisfying to know that the three men who went inside the travel agency that day have been brought to justice, along with three of those who were outside that day. I've seen how important that has been to Paul and Teresa."

"Finding Jama was a big priority for us, now we move on to seventh man."

Piran Ditta Khan, believed to have provided the information leading to the premises being targeted, was also in Bradford that afternoon but disappeared afterwards and remains at large.

Det Supt Brennan said: "We hope the conviction of Jama sends a message to anyone who commits a crime in West Yorkshire, it doesn't matter where you go, we will find you."

Advocate Helen Gaunt, of West Yorkshire Crown Prosecution Service, said the extradition of Jama was a prime example of co-operation between the UK and international authorities.

"CPS lawyers in West Yorkshire consulted with colleagues in the Special Crime Division in London with expertise in extradition requests. Together with West Yorkshire Police we were determined Mustaf Jama should return to face justice."

A West Yorkshire Police spokeswoman said on behalf of Pc Milburn: "She is relieved Mustaf Jama will spend the next 35 years in jail along with the others who shot Sharon and her."

The Chief Constable, Sir Norman Bettison, said: "The case united everyone in Bradford in shock and sympathy for Sharon's family and for Teresa. We owed it to the city as well as to the force to leave no stone unturned in bringing the perpetrators to justice."