Manchester: Dale Cregan denies murdering Fiona Bone and Nicola Hughes

Dale Cregan has pleaded not guilty to murdering Fiona Bone and Nicola Hughes in a gun and grenade attack.

The officers were killed on the morning of 18 September as they responded to a report of a burglary in Hattersley, Greater Manchester.

Fiona Bone, who had been planning to enter into a civil partnership with her girl friend Clare Curran, when she lost her life, was laid to rest in Moray in north east Scotland, last month.

Appearing via a video link at Liverpool Crown Court on Monday, Cregan also denied the murders of two other men.

The 29-year-old is charged with four counts of murder and attempted murder and causing an explosion with a grenade.

Nine other men appeared from Manchester and Wakefield prison via video link.

Relatives of both Fiona Bone and Nicola Hughes also attended the hearing.

A trial date has been set for 4 February 2013 at Preston Crown Court.