PC murder accused trial to start

The trial of the man accused of murdering two police officers will begin at Preston Crown Court this morning.

Dale Cregan is charged with killing police constable Fiona Bone – a former Island resident – and her colleague PC Nicola Hughes in a gun and grenade attack in Manchester last September.

Miss Bone, whose parents live in Port St Mary, was a former Castle Rushen High School student.

Dale Cregan is standing trial with nine other defendants in proceedings expected to last up to 12 weeks.

As well as denying murdering Fiona Bone and Nicola Hughes, he is charged with two other counts of murder, four counts of attempted murder and causing an explosion.

The trial, which begins at 10.30am, is before Mr Justice Holroyde.

He was the senior prosecutor in the double murder trial in the Isle of Man in 2003.