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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Dale Cregan admits murders of father and son | Dale Cregan admits murders of father and son |
| (4 months later) | |
| The man who has already admitted killing two policewomen in Greater Manchester has pleaded guilty to the murders of a father and son. | The man who has already admitted killing two policewomen in Greater Manchester has pleaded guilty to the murders of a father and son. |
| Dale Cregan, 29, changed his pleas in the second week of his trial at Preston crown court to admit murdering the officers in Hattersley last September. | Dale Cregan, 29, changed his pleas in the second week of his trial at Preston crown court to admit murdering the officers in Hattersley last September. |
| His trial continued as he maintained he had not gunned down Mark Short, 23, in a pub in Droylsden and that he had not killed David Short, 46, in a gun and grenade attack at his home in Clayton. | His trial continued as he maintained he had not gunned down Mark Short, 23, in a pub in Droylsden and that he had not killed David Short, 46, in a gun and grenade attack at his home in Clayton. |
| On Wednesday, on the eve of his barrister's closing speech to the jury, he changed his pleas to those allegations and stood up in the dock and admitted his guilt. | On Wednesday, on the eve of his barrister's closing speech to the jury, he changed his pleas to those allegations 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. | He also admitted causing an explosion with a hand-grenade at an address in Droylsden but denies attempting to murder the householder. |
| Cregan lured the unarmed police constables Fiona Bone, 32, and Nicola Hughes, 23, with a bogus emergency call before using a Glock handgun and a military grenade to kill them on 18 September last year. | Cregan lured the unarmed police constables Fiona Bone, 32, and Nicola Hughes, 23, with a bogus emergency call before using a Glock handgun and a military grenade to kill them on 18 September last year. |
| The murder of David Short the previous month was done in a similar manner using the same gun and the same type of grenade. | The murder of David Short the previous month was done in a similar manner using the same gun and the same type of grenade. |
| In May, Cregan had gunned down Mark Short as he played pool in the Cotton Tree pub in Droylsden. | In May, Cregan had gunned down Mark Short as he played pool in the Cotton Tree pub in Droylsden. |
| His barrister, Simon Csoka QC, began the day by asking six of the seven remaining counts to be put to his client. | His barrister, Simon Csoka QC, began the day by asking six of the seven remaining counts to be put to his client. |
| Cregan, wearing a grey Adidas top, then stood up and calmly answered "guilty" to murdering Mark Short and David Short. | Cregan, wearing a grey Adidas top, then stood up and calmly answered "guilty" to murdering Mark Short and David Short. |
| He pleaded guilty to the attempted murders of John Collins, Ryan Pridding and Michael Belcher, who were all in the Cotton Tree at the time on the evening of 25 May last year. | He pleaded guilty to the attempted murders of John Collins, Ryan Pridding and Michael Belcher, who were all in the Cotton Tree at the time on the evening of 25 May last year. |
| He also admitted causing an explosion at a property in Luke Road, Droylsden, on 10 August, shortly after the murder of David Short. | He also admitted causing an explosion at a property in Luke Road, Droylsden, on 10 August, shortly after the murder of David Short. |
| The jury foreman was then invited by the trial judge Mr Justice Holroyde to formally return guilty verdicts on those counts. | The jury foreman was then invited by the trial judge Mr Justice Holroyde to formally return guilty verdicts on those counts. |
| The judge then told the jurors that the defendant remained on trial for the single allegation remaining against him – that he attempted to murder Sharon Hark at her home in Luke Road. | The judge then told the jurors that the defendant remained on trial for the single allegation remaining against him – that he attempted to murder Sharon Hark at her home in Luke Road. |
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