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Pc admits murdering his fiancee Pc admits murdering his fiancee
(about 1 hour later)
A police officer has pleaded guilty to murdering his police constable fiancee in Greater Manchester. An ex-policeman has pleaded guilty to murdering his police constable fiancee by bludgeoning her with a hammer before staging a bogus car crash.
Martin Forshaw, 27, of Tottington, Bury, admitted killing Claire Howarth, 31, when he appeared at the city's crown court for trial. Martin Forshaw, 27, of Tottington, Bury, admitted killing Claire Howarth, 31, hours before their wedding as he appeared at Manchester Crown Court.
Ms Howarth, a Greater Manchester police officer, died following a car crash close to the couple's home on 7 May. Miss Howarth, a Greater Manchester police officer, was found badly hurt in the driver's seat of her BMW on 7 May.
It is believed Forshaw put his already injured partner in the driver's seat before directing the car to crash. Forshaw had put her injured body into the car and caused it to crash.
The couple had been due to get married days after the killing. The court heard Forshaw attacked his girlfriend at least five times with a lump hammer as they were preparing to fly out for their wedding in St Lucia, which had been due to take place five days later.
'Head trauma' He then carried her downstairs at their home, put her into the driver's seat of the car and accelerated the vehicle into a hedge.
At the scene, Forshaw told the emergency services his fiancee had not been wearing a seatbelt.
Miss Howarth's BMW was found crashed into a hedge near their home
Prosecutor Ray Wigglesworth QC said the then police officer had driven around secluded country lanes in Bury before staging the bogus accident and dialling 999.
Detectives cordoned off the pair's home after Miss Howarth's silver BMW left the road.Detectives cordoned off the pair's home after Miss Howarth's silver BMW left the road.
She was taken to Royal Bolton Hospital with severe head injuries and died there later.She was taken to Royal Bolton Hospital with severe head injuries and died there later.
Police started a murder investigation, suspecting she had been attacked before the crash.Police started a murder investigation, suspecting she had been attacked before the crash.
A post-mortem examination revealed Miss Howarth died as a result of "severe head trauma".A post-mortem examination revealed Miss Howarth died as a result of "severe head trauma".
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, a serving officer with Cheshire Police who had been known by his middle name Alex at work, resigned from the force when he was charged with her murder. Forshaw, an officer with Cheshire Police who was known at work by his middle name Alex, resigned from the force when he was charged with Miss Howarth's murder.
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.