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Dale Cregan admits father and son murders in Greater Manchester | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Police killer Dale Cregan has admitted the murders of a father and son in Greater Manchester. | Police killer Dale Cregan has admitted the murders of a father and son in Greater Manchester. |
Mark Short, 23, was shot in a pub in Droylsden in May 2012. His father David, 46, was killed in a gun and grenade attack in Clayton last August. | |
Cregan, 29, has now admitted four murders including those of PCs Fiona Bone and Nicola Hughes. | |
Simon Csoka QC told the jury at Preston Crown Court his client "is going to die in prison". | Simon Csoka QC told the jury at Preston Crown Court his client "is going to die in prison". |
The trial heard how David Short was fatally injured when Cregan and Anthony Wilkinson attacked him at his home on 10 August. | The trial heard how David Short was fatally injured when Cregan and Anthony Wilkinson attacked him at his home on 10 August. |
Weeks earlier, on 25 May, Cregan had shot dead Mark Short while he played pool in the Cotton Tree pub. | Weeks earlier, on 25 May, Cregan had shot dead Mark Short while he played pool in the Cotton Tree pub. |
Shortly after the trial started he admitted the murders of the two Greater Manchester Police officers in Abbey Gardens, Mottram, in September last year. | |
The jury heard how Cregan lured PCs Bone and Hughes to a house before shooting them repeatedly and then throwing a grenade. | The jury heard how Cregan lured PCs Bone and Hughes to a house before shooting them repeatedly and then throwing a grenade. |
Four murders | Four murders |
Earlier in court, Cregan offered guilty pleas to the attempted murder of three men in the pub attack - John Collins, Ryan Pridding and Michael Belcher. | Earlier in court, Cregan offered guilty pleas to the attempted murder of three men in the pub attack - John Collins, Ryan Pridding and Michael Belcher. |
He also admitted causing an explosion, but denies the attempted murder of Sharon Hark. | He also admitted causing an explosion, but denies the attempted murder of Sharon Hark. |
In his closing speech, Mr Csoka said: "You now know for sure that he has murdered four people and that he has attempted to murder others inside the Cotton Tree pub. | In his closing speech, Mr Csoka said: "You now know for sure that he has murdered four people and that he has attempted to murder others inside the Cotton Tree pub. |
"Ordinarily in a closing speech the defence barrister will tell you how important your task is, how it makes so much difference, how the liberty of the defendant hangs in the balance. | "Ordinarily in a closing speech the defence barrister will tell you how important your task is, how it makes so much difference, how the liberty of the defendant hangs in the balance. |
"All of those words mean nothing now, absolutely nothing. | |
"He is going to be sentenced for four murders and three attempted murders. He is not going anywhere. He is going to die in prison." | "He is going to be sentenced for four murders and three attempted murders. He is not going anywhere. He is going to die in prison." |
Nine co-defendants | |
It is alleged by the Crown the violence first started after a "long-standing feud" between two rival Manchester families - the Shorts and the Atkinsons. | |
The court previously heard the pub shooting was ordered by Leon Atkinson, 35, from Ashton-under-Lyne, and that Cregan recruited Luke Livesey, 27, from Hattersley. | |
Damian Gorman, 37, from Glossop, Ryan Hadfield, 28, from Droylsden, and Matthew James, 33, from Clayton, were also recruited for the task. | |
They all deny the murder of Mark Short and the attempted murders of Mr Collins, Mr Pridding and Mr Belcher. | |
In April, Anthony Wilkinson, 34, changed his plea to guilty over the murder of David Short. | |
He denies one count of the attempted murder of Sharon Hark and causing an explosion with a hand grenade. | |
Francis Dixon, 37, from Stalybridge, and Jermaine Ward, 24, deny the above charges relating to David Short and Sharon Hark. | |
Mohammed Ali, 23, from Chadderton, denies assisting an offender. |