A Birmingham woman has been jailed for 14 years after launching a ferocious knife attack on her ex-boyfriend's new partner, using a niqab to conceal her identity in a calculated act of violence.
Aimee Betro, 30, lay in wait for her victim outside a home on Wroxall Road in Yardley on the evening of 18th February. Disguised in the full-face Islamic veil, she ambushed the 28-year-old woman, stabbing her multiple times in the back, arm, and hand in a brutal assault that left the victim fearing for her life.
A Calculated and Vicious Assault
Birmingham Crown Court heard how Betro's attack was premeditated and driven by jealousy. The court was told she had purchased the niqab specifically to carry out the assault without being recognised, demonstrating a chilling level of planning.
The victim, who required surgery for her injuries, recounted the terror of the moment in a personal statement, saying she believed she was going to die as her unidentified attacker stabbed her relentlessly.
Justice Served at Birmingham Crown Court
Judge Simon Drew KC condemned Betro's actions, stating the use of the niqab was a "significant aggravating factor" intended to prevent identification and facilitate escape. Betro was found guilty of attempted murder after a trial and received a 14-year custodial sentence.
Detective Inspector Michelle Thurgood, from West Midlands Police, praised the victim's bravery and emphasised that this was a "premeditated and vicious attack on a defenceless woman.” The investigation involved piecing together CCTV footage that ultimately exposed Betro's ruse.
