Police killer Dale Cregan admits two more Manchester murders
Dale Cregan, the man who murdered Manchester police officers Nicola Hughes and Fiona Bone, admits also murdering a father and son.
Cregan, 29, pleaded guilty at Preston crown court to the murders of David and Mark Short. He was accused of murdering Mark Short at the Cotton Tree Inn in Droylsden, Manchester, on 25 May last year, and then Mark’s father David in an attack at his home in Clayton, Manchester in August.
Nearing the end of his two-week trial, Cregan changed his pleas and stood up in the dock and admitted his guilt. He also admitted causing an explosion with a hand-grenade at an address in Droylsden but denies attempting to murder the householder.
Police murders
Following the murders, Cregan became Manchester’s most wanted man, with police launching an enormous manhunt. That manhunt concluded on September 18 last year, with the murders of PC Bone and Hughes.
The two unarmed police officers responded to calls of a burglary in the Hattersley area of Manchester. Preston crown court has previously heard that Cregan dialled 999 to lure the officers to the area.
When the officers arrived at his front door he fired 32 bullets at them in 31 seconds, prosecutors said.
On trial
Remaining on trial are Leon Atkinson, 35, Luke Livesey, 27, Damian Gorman, 38, Ryan Hadfield, 28 and Matthew James, 33 who all deny murdering Mark Short and the attempted murders of three others in the pub.
Francis Dixon, 37, and Jermaine Ward, 24, deny murdering David Short, the attempted murder of Sharon Hark and causing an explosion with a hand grenade.
Anthony Wilkinson, 38, had denied murdering David Short at his Clayton home last August, but has since changed his plea to guilty. He also admitted possessing a firearm, but has denied attempting to murder Sharon Hark and causing an explosion with a hand grenade.
Mohammed Ali, 32, from Chadderton, denies assisting an offender.
The trial continues.