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Pc given life for fiancee murder Pc given life for fiancee murder
(about 1 hour later)
An ex-Pc has been jailed for life with an 18-year minimum tariff for fatally bludgeoning his fiancee, then pretending she had been in a car crash.An ex-Pc has been jailed for life with an 18-year minimum tariff for fatally bludgeoning his fiancee, then pretending she had been in a car crash.
Martin Forshaw, 27, of Tottington, Bury, admitted murdering fellow police officer Claire Howarth, 31, with a hammer days before their wedding.Martin Forshaw, 27, of Tottington, Bury, admitted murdering fellow police officer Claire Howarth, 31, with a hammer days before their wedding.
Miss Howarth was found badly hurt in the driver's seat of her BMW on 7 May.Miss Howarth was found badly hurt in the driver's seat of her BMW on 7 May.
Forshaw had put her injured body into the car and caused it to crash, Manchester Crown Court was told.Forshaw had put her injured body into the car and caused it to crash, Manchester Crown Court was told.
'Brutal killing'
The court heard Forshaw hit Miss Howarth at least five times with a lump hammer as they were preparing to fly to St Lucia for their wedding, which had been due to take place five days later.The court heard Forshaw hit Miss Howarth at least five times with a lump hammer as they were preparing to fly to St Lucia for their wedding, which had been due to take place five days later.
He then carried her downstairs at their home, put her into the driver's seat of the car and drove around secluded country lanes before accelerating the vehicle into a hedge. 'Brutal killing'
After the attack at their home, he carried her downstairs and put her in the car before driving around secluded country lanes.
He then stopped the car, moved her into the driver's seat and sat in the passenger's seat while pressing the accelerator and deliberately crashing the vehicle into a hedge.
Prosecutor Ray Wigglesworth QC said the then Cheshire Police officer dialled 999 and reported the bogus accident.Prosecutor Ray Wigglesworth QC said the then Cheshire Police officer dialled 999 and reported the bogus accident.
At the scene, Forshaw told the emergency services his fiancee had not been wearing a seatbelt.At the scene, Forshaw told the emergency services his fiancee had not been wearing a seatbelt.
Pc Howarth was due to marry Martin Forshaw in St LuciaPc Howarth was due to marry Martin Forshaw in St Lucia
The couple has been together for 10 months but there was evidence that Forshaw was also still seeing the mother of his four-year-old son. The couple had been together for 10 months but there was evidence that Forshaw was also still seeing the mother of his four-year-old son.
Meanwhile he kept the impending wedding a secret from some of his colleagues.Meanwhile he kept the impending wedding a secret from some of his colleagues.
The court was told the Pc was "torn" over his feelings for the two women and told his fiancee the wedding was cancelled before he struck her with the mallet.The court was told the Pc was "torn" over his feelings for the two women and told his fiancee the wedding was cancelled before he struck her with the mallet.
Jailing him, Justice David Clarke called the murder "a brutal killing".Jailing him, Justice David Clarke called the murder "a brutal killing".
The judge added the ending of the relationship produced the "highest emotions" with "the results we can all see".The judge added the ending of the relationship produced the "highest emotions" with "the results we can all see".
Miss Howarth died at Royal Bolton Hospital.Miss Howarth died at Royal Bolton Hospital.
A post-mortem examination revealed she died as a result of "severe head trauma" and 14 separate injuries to her neck and head.A post-mortem examination revealed she died as a result of "severe head trauma" and 14 separate injuries to her neck and head.
When questioned, Forshaw said Miss Howarth had been hit as he tried to defend himself from her attacking him with the mallet, but pathologists said this was "totally implausible". When questioned, Forshaw said Miss Howarth had been attacking him with the mallet and she was hit as he tried to defend himself, but pathologists said this was "totally implausible".
It was such a poor attempt to make it look like a crash that both the police and the ambulance service were immediately suspicious Andy Tattersall, Cheshire Police Irene Howarth said her daughter would remain in her heart
She had been due to take up a position as a community beat manager in Rochdale after completing her probationary period.She had been due to take up a position as a community beat manager in Rochdale after completing her probationary period.
Forshaw, who was known at work by his middle name Alex, resigned from Cheshire Police when he was charged with Miss Howarth's murder.Forshaw, who was known at work by his middle name Alex, resigned from Cheshire Police when he was charged with Miss Howarth's murder.
The force described him as a "quiet and efficient officer".The force described him as a "quiet and efficient officer".
According to Cheshire Police his arrest was a "shock" to "those who knew and worked alongside him" because he had made no mention of problems in his private life.According to Cheshire Police his arrest was a "shock" to "those who knew and worked alongside him" because he had made no mention of problems in his private life.
He had joined in 2003 and was initially stationed at Macclesfield, before transferring to the operational support team at the force's headquarters in Winsford.He had joined in 2003 and was initially stationed at Macclesfield, before transferring to the operational support team at the force's headquarters in Winsford.
Senior investigating officer Andy Tattersall said: "It was such a poor attempt to make it look like a crash that both the police and the ambulance service were immediately suspicious, and the severity of Claire's head injuries meant they could not have been caused by such a minor crash."Senior investigating officer Andy Tattersall said: "It was such a poor attempt to make it look like a crash that both the police and the ambulance service were immediately suspicious, and the severity of Claire's head injuries meant they could not have been caused by such a minor crash."
Miss Howarth's mother Irene said: "The heartache is still very raw and painful for myself and my family to come to terms with Claire's horrific and meaningless death."Miss Howarth's mother Irene said: "The heartache is still very raw and painful for myself and my family to come to terms with Claire's horrific and meaningless death."