Dale Cregan: Trial date set for police killer's mother
Police killer Dale Cregan's mother and a police call handler are to be tried in December accused of conspiracy to commit misconduct in a public office.
Anita Cregan, 56, and Kathryn Smith, 25, a Greater Manchester Police (GMP) employee, will be joined by Sean Booth, 30, who also faces the same charge. They will appear before a plea and case management hearing on 13 September with the trial date set for 11 December. The trial venue has not yet been confirmed. Ms Cregan and Mr Booth appeared at Manchester Crown Court via video link from Styal women's prison and HMP Manchester - Ms Smith was granted bail at an earlier hearing. Ms Smith has been suspended from the force since 8 September 2012. An internal investigation has opened and will be completed once the criminal case is dealt with. Dale Cregan was given a whole-life sentence earlier this month for the murders of PCs Nicola Hughes and Fiona Bone and of father and and son David and Mark Short.