Constable charged with murder

An officer from Cheshire Constabulary has been charged with murder, after allegedly staging a car crash to cover up the killing of his fiancee, also a police constable.
Martin Forshaw, 26, was questioned on his last moments with Claire Howarth, 31, after traffic investigators became suspicious about the crash that appeared to have killed her.
Regarded a “future high-flier” at Greater Manchester Police (GMP), Miss Howarth was found critically injured after apparently veering off the road and crashing into a tree in the early hours May 7.
Miss Howarth was suffering from severe head injuries when paramedics removed her from the wreckage. She was taken to hospital but died a short time later.
Mr Forshaw was in the vehicle with Mss Howarth, but suffered only minor injuries.
The incident was initially treated without suspicion, but the extent of Miss Howarth’s injuries prompted further investigation.
Mr Forshaw was arrested on suspicion of murder.
While Miss Howarth is believed to have been found in the driving seat of the car, an investigation is underway to establish if she was behind the wheel at the time of the crash.
Miss Howarth lived with Mr Forshaw in a house near to the crash scene.
A spokesman for GMP said: “We can confirm that the woman who died was a serving GMP officer.
“At 2.25am police were informed by the ambulance service that a silver BMW had left the road on Tottington Road, Harwood.
“The driver, a 31-year-old woman, was taken to the Royal Bolton Hospital with a serious head injury and later died.”
The spokesman added: “An investigation has been launched to establish how the victim sustained her injuries and the possibility she was attacked before the road traffic collision. A 26-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder and remains in police custody for questioning.”