When is dale cregan back in court

Theresa Atkinson - dubbed the "matriarch" of the family - threw a bottle at another member of the Short family, Raymond Young, who slapped her.

The court heard Ms Atkinson warned him: "I'm going to get my boys - you're all dead. Phone records showed she called her son Leon and another son hours later, and the following morning Atkinson spoke to his mother again before contacting Cregan. Twelve days later the Short family and friends gathered at the Cotton Tree pub in Droylsden.

Shortly afterwards a balaclava-clad gunman entered the pub, fatally shooting Mark Short and also hitting three other men. David Short, in the toilets during the shooting, emerged unscathed to see his son die in his arms.

Despite being a "lead player" among local criminals, Cregan feared retaliation attacks and decided to kill David Short to prevent this. Greater Manchester Police said they issued Mr Short with three "threat to life" warnings, believing his life could be in danger. The force gave out such warnings in and the same number in - more than the Metropolitan Police.

He was chased through the house and back outside, shot at least nine times and a grenade was thrown on to his body where he lay. A second grenade was thrown at another house in nearby Luke Road, Droylsden, 10 minutes later, though no-one was hurt. During the trial Dr James Collins, a consultant forensic psychiatrist, said Cregan told him David Short was killed after making threats against his family. During their conversations Cregan said: "After I killed Mark Short, he said he would rape my son, he said he would set him on fire.

I thought if I kill him, maybe I will get a rest. He told me 'The gloves are off'. So I was always going to kill him. After the murder, Cregan and Wilkinson went on the run and became the most wanted fugitives in the country. Wilkinson gave himself up to police first and, after a month in hiding, Cregan finally handed himself in after murdering the two police officers having lured them to the scene with a false report of a burglary. The dock was packed with Cregan, the other defendants and about 15 security guards as proceedings began in court 1 amid high security.

In front of the dock, about 20 barristers, representing the defendants, sat in two rows as preliminary legal issues were discussed before the selection of a jury. Cregan's co-accused are variously charged with helping or taking part in one of the four murders, firearms offences or assisting an offender. All 10 will face a jury trial, having pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Hughes and Bone were killed as they responded to a report of a burglary in Hattersley, Greater Manchester, on the morning of 18 September last year. His year-old father was found dead on 10 August after an explosion at a house in nearby Clayton. He was calm and casual when an officer arrested him, allegedly saying: "I dropped the gun at the scene and I've murdered two police officers. You were hounding my family so I took it out on yours.

The jury was also shown images of Cregan arriving at the police station wearing a pale top, blue shorts and trainers. He still had his mobile to his ear as he was being handcuffed. Earlier, the court heard how Cregan had called at the house he used for the ambush the evening before.

The householder, who cannot be named for legal reasons, had cut the fugitive's hair in the past. He knew Cregan was wanted by police and was terrified for the safety of his partner and her seven-year-old daughter.

Cregan placed his hand grenade on the fireplace within minutes of his arrival, the court heard. He allegedly demanded that the householder contact a mutual friend, Steven Garvey, and bring him to the house, and at one point Cregan sent him out for beer, cigarettes and cigars. The next morning Cregan is said to have ordered the householder to cut his hair as he had done once before.

The householder also trimmed his beard. Cregan then took a bath and changed into fresh clothes before making the call, the court heard. Cregan denies murdering both the police officers and David and Mark Short.

Five other men deny the murder of Mark Short and three further defendants deny the murder of David Short. This article is more than 8 years old. Relatives weep in public gallery as prosecutor describes how two unarmed police officers walked into deadly trap. Topics Crime Police Dale Cregan news.