Manchester: Man charged with killing lesbian PC and her colleague
A man has been remanded in custody after appearing in court charged with the murders of a lesbian police officer, her colleague and two men in Greater Manchester.
PC Fiona Bone and PC Nicola Hughes were killed in a gun and grenade attack in Mottram, Tameside, on Tuesday morning.
Louise Curran, a freelance television producer, and Ms Curran’s sister, said on Facebook that PC Bone was “kind, loving, gentle, funny,” and a “caring sister-to-be”.
While PC Bone was calm and reserved, PC Hughes was “bubbly” and a “chatterbox”. She joined the Greater Manchester force three years ago and it was the job she loved, her family said.
Dale Cregan, 29, is accused of their murders. He is also charged with murdering Mark Short and his father David, in separate attacks.
He arrived at Manchester Magistrates’ Court under police escort. Mr Cregan also faces four charges of attempted murder.
Mr Cregan will appear at Manchester Crown Court on Monday.
At a news conference on Thursday, Nazir Afzal, Chief Crown Prosecutor for CPS North West, said he had authorised Greater Manchester Police to bring the charges.
“The tragic events this week in which Police Constables Fiona Bone and Nicola Hughes lost their lives in the line of duty have shocked and appalled the whole country,” he said.
Meanwhile, police have been given more time to question a second man, Stephen Garvey, 28, who was arrested on Wednesday on suspicion of conspiracy to commit murder.
