Pair deny Short killing

Two men have denied murdering a man gunned down in a pub in Greater Manchester.

Ryan Hadfield and Leon Atkinson pleaded not guilty to the murder of Mark Short (23) when they appeared at Liverpool Crown Court. Mr Short was killed following a shooting at the Cotton Tree Pub in Droylsden on May 25.

Hadfield (28), from Droylsden, and Atkinson (35), from Ashton, also entered not guilty pleas to charges of attempted murder on John Collins, Ryan Pridding and Michael Belcher, who were with Mark Short at the time of the shooting.

Hadfield and Atkinson were remanded in custody ahead of an expected trial in Preston in February.

Their co–accused, Dale Cregan (29), of no fixed address, has previously entered not-guilty pleas to seven charges, including the murder of Mark Short and the murder of Mr Short’s father David (46) on August 10. He also denies the murders of Greater Manchester Police constables Nicola Hughes, from Diggle, and Fiona Bone, killed on September 18 as they responded to a report of a burglary in Hattersley.

Other defendants are also due to appear in court in connection with these and other charges.