Vigil marks police killings

A vigil was being held today to mark the time one week ago when two policewomen were gunned down while answering a routine call.

PCs Nicola Hughes (23), from Diggle, and her colleague Fiona Bone (32) had been called to a burglary on the Hattersley estate in Tameside, when they were attacked last Tuesday morning.

Today some of their colleagues were joining members of the community close to the crime scene in Abbey Gardens, Hattersley, to hold a vigil to remember the officers, including a minute’s silence.



::A senior judge issued a warning to press, politicians and police as alleged killer Dale Cregan appeared in court.

Cregan (29) appeared by videolink at Manchester Crown Court, accused of the murder of the two policewomen and David and Mark Short, who died in May and August this year.

The Honorary Recorder of Manchester, Judge Andrew Gilbart QC, emphasisied the need to ensure Cregan gets a fair trial.

The law prohibits the media from publishing any details about a defendant or alleged offences that could interfere with the administration of justice.

Judge Gilbart said it is the court’s job to ensure comment and “background” material about the case does not prejudice a fair trial.

He said: “I must emphasise in the strongest terms that, now that he has been charged, the time has come for that flow of material and comment to cease.”




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