Cregan facing four murder charges (From Thurrock Gazette)
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Cregan facing four murder charges
10:27pm Thursday 20th September 2012 in National News © Press Association 2013
Dale Cregan has been charged with the murders of two women police officers (GMP/PA)
Dale Cregan has been charged with the murders of two police officers in a gun and grenade attack.
The 29-year-old is also accused of killing father and son David and Mark Short in separate incidents earlier this year. In addition, Cregan faces four charges of attempted murder.
The deaths of Pcs Nicola Hughes and Fiona Bone during a bogus burglary call in Hattersley, Greater Manchester, on Tuesday shocked the nation and has elicited an outpouring of sympathy across the country.
The Crown Prosecution Service said it authorised Greater Manchester Police to charge Cregan, who was questioned by police since his arrest on the day Pcs Hughes and Bone were killed.
He will appear in custody at Manchester City Magistrates' Court on Friday.
Sir Peter Fahy, Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police, made a further appeal to the public at the press conference in which the charges were announced, describing the investigation as "complex".
Nazir Afzal, Chief Crown Prosecutor for CPS North West, said: "I have authorised the police to charge 29-year-old Dale Cregan with their (Pcs Hughes and Bone's) murders and with the murders of Mark Short, who was killed at the Cotton Tree Inn in Droylsden on 25 May, and David Short, who was killed at his home in Clayton on 10 August.
"Cregan has also been charged with the attempted murders of Michael Belcher, Ryan Pridding and John Short on 25 May and Sharon Hark on 10 August.
"The CPS and Greater Manchester Police are absolutely determined to deliver justice for those who have been killed and for their families, and we will continue working closely during the ongoing investigations into these deaths."
Earlier, the Chief Constable laid flowers at the scene where the officers were murdered. He stood in silence alongside colleagues on the Hattersley estate, their heads bowed, a growing pile of bouquets in front of them.
