Heroic Preston educated PC Fiona Bone tried to Taser alleged killer Dale Cregan seconds before suffering a fatal gunshot wound to her heart, a court has heard.
Preston Crown Court heard Cregan unleashed a hail of bullets at PC Bone, 32, and PC Nicola Hughes, 23 - many as they lay injured on the ground.
The jury heard how Cregan later handed himself in to police at Hyde Police station telling them: “Sorry about those two that have been killed, I wish it was men.”
Jurors were told the two police officers were lured to reports of a fake break-in by fugitive Cregan, who was wanted on suspicion of two murders.
After shooting the officers, Cregan threw a grenade at the scene before fleeing to a nearby police station to avoid a confrontation with firearms officers, prosecutors said.
Setting out the prosecution case, Nicolas Clarke QC told the jury Cregan went to the house in Abbey Gardens, Mottram, on September 17, armed with a Glock firearm and a hand grenade. The following morning, using the false name Adam Gartree, Cregan made a 999 call. He was “calm and composed, in control of himself and his emotions”, the court heard.
As PC Fiona Bone and PC Nicola Hughes walked up to the house Cregan fired a hail of bullets, it is alleged. The first shots deflected off the officers’ body armour but as Nicola Hughes turned she was shot in the back and paralysed, falling to the floor.
Fiona Bone, who had retreated behind a porch, discharged her Taser but it deflected off a hard surface.
Cregan let off 33 bullets in 31 seconds, and both officers suffered fatal injuries. He then threw a grenade towards the officers before driving to Hyde Police Station in a blue BMW.
As he arrived at the police station, Cregan was speaking to his girlfriend on his mobile phone. He then put his hands out towards the officer and was calm and casual as he was handcuffed and arrested.
When asked if he was carrying any weapons, he told the arresting officer: “I’ve 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.”
Cregan has pleaded not guilty to murdering the two officers and to two further counts of murder, four counts of attempted murder and causing an explosion.
Nine others sit alongside Cregan in the dock, variously charged with murder, attempted murder, firearms offences and assisting an offender.
(Proceeding)