Yusuf Jamma was surprisingly calm and stood around asking other prisoners for cigarettes after he was arrested for the murder of PC Sharon Beshenivsky, the murder trial heard today.

Detective Sargeant Michael Ross, of West Midlands Police, told the court he went to see Jamma in a cell at the custody block of the Steel House Lane police station in Birmingham after he was arrested on November 26 last year.

Det Sgt Ross told the accused he was under arrest for PC Beshenivsky's murder, the attempted murder of her colleague PC Teresa Milburn and robbery at the Universal Express Travel Agents in Morley Street, Bradford. Jamma made no reply but nodded his head.

Det Sgt Ross said Jamma showed no outward signs of distress or anxiety on being arrested on such a significant matter.

He added: "He was standing around asking people for cigarettes which I thought was very unusual."

The court heard that after he was arrested at a house in Alum Rock, Birmingham, Jamma gave a false name, but his fingerprints matched those of Yusuf Jamma.

The court was told that after his arrest he appeared to be unsteady on his feet, incoherent and dopey. He was taken to hospital where staff found he was suffering from nothing more sinister than having taken alcohol.

Jamma made no response to any questions put to him during nine interviews over three days.

The jury was told that Muzzaker Imtiaz Shah was arrested in Newport, South Wales, on December 12 last year.

PC Richard Dibley, of Gwent police, told how Shah and another man were challenged by fellow firearms officers as they walked out of an alley in Cromwell Road in the town.

The two men were told to lie on the floor and PC Dibley handcuffed Shah and searched him. When he asked him his name Shah said: "Just take me to the police station."

When he was told he was being arrested for murder, attempted murder and robbery he quietly said: "Yes."

Yusuf Abdillh Jamma, 20, of Small Heath, Birmingham, Raza Ul-Haq Aslam, 25, of Kentish Town, London, and brothers Faisal Razzaq, 25, and Hassan Razzaq, 26, both of Forest Gate, London, plead not guilty to PC Sharon Beshenivsky's murder.

Muzzaker Imtiaz Shah, 25, of London, admits murder and robbery but denies the attempted murder of PC Teresa Milburn. He has also pleaded guilty to two charges of possessing a prohibited weapon and two charges of possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life.

Aslam and the Razzaq brothers deny robbery but Jamma has admitted that charge. Aslam, the Razzaq brothers and Jamma also plead not guilty to firearms offences.

The trial continues.

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