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Dale Cregan In Court Over PCs' Murders

Dale Cregan In Court Over PCs' Murders

A man has appeared in court accused of murdering two female police officers in a gun and grenade attack.

Police Constables Nicola Hughes, 23, and Fiona Bone, 32, were killed on September 18 as they responded to a report of a burglary in Hattersley, Greater Manchester.

Dale Cregan, 29, has previously pleaded not guilty to murdering the Greater Manchester Police (GMP) officers and the murders of Mark Short, 23, in Manchester last May and his father David almost three months later.

Amateur boxer Mr Short was shot at the Cotton Tree pub in Droylsden, Manchester, on May 25 and his 46-year-old father was found dead on August 10 following a blast at a house in nearby Clayton.

Cregan, of no fixed address, appeared by video-link with nine co-defendants at Liverpool Crown Court.

During the hearing, three defendants were asked to enter their pleas.

Matthew James, 33, from Clayton, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Mark Short and the attempted murders of John Collins, Ryan Pridding and Michael Belcher, who were also in the Cotton Tree pub on the night of the shooting.

Francis Dixon, 37, from Stalybridge, pleaded not guilty to the murder of David Short, the attempted murder of Sharon Hark and one count of causing an explosion with a hand grenade.

Mohammed Ali, 23, from Chadderton, denied assisting an offender.

The remaining defendants entered not guilty pleas at earlier hearings. Luke Livesey, 27, from Hattersley; Damien Gorman, 37, from Glossop; Ryan Hadfield, 28, from Droylsden; and Leon Atkinson, 35, from Ashton-under-Lyne, have denied the murder of Mark Short and three counts of attempted murder.

Anthony Wilkinson, 33, from Beswick, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of David Short, possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life, attempted murder and causing an explosion with a hand grenade.

Jermaine Ward, 24, has also previously denied the murder of David Short, one count of attempted murder and an allegation of causing an explosion with a hand grenade.

The men were remanded in custody by Mr Justice Holroyde until their trial at Preston Crown Court on February 4.

The judge also directed that a preliminary hearing take place in Preston on February 1 and told the defendants they may attend by video-link if they wish to.