02/12/2004

Former US Marine convicted of policeman's murder

David Bieber 38, a former US marine was convicted today at Newcastle Crown Court of murdering Pc Ian Broadhurst in Leeds on Boxing Day 2003.

The court heard how Bieber callously shot Broadhurst five times at point blank range, despite the 34 year old officer pleading for his life. A jury of six men and women recorded unanimous guilty verdicts on all charges.

Bieber had fled to the UK from Florida where he was suspected by police of plotting to hire a gunman to kill his love rival and later, of hiring the same gunman to kill his former girlfriend. The murder attempt failed. Bieber maintained that the gunman who killed PC Broadhurst was a US national, but on refusal to name the man in court, the jury did not accept his story.

On Boxing Day last year PC Broadhurst along with colleagues were checking a black BMW car which they believed to be stolen, when Bieber opened fire after PC Roper attempted to handcuff him. PC Broadhurst was shot in the chest, shoulder and finally the head.

It emerged that during the last year before being discharged from the marines Bieber trained with handguns and assault rifles.

(mmcg/sp)

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