Constable questioned over suspicious crash

An officer from Cheshire Constabulary has been questioned on suspicion of staging a car crash to cover up the murder of his girlfriend, also a police constable.

Martin Forshaw, 26, is being questioned on his last moments with girlfriend Claire Howarth, 31, after traffic investigators became suspicious about the crash that appeared to have killed Miss Howarth.

Regarded a “future high-flier” at Greater Manchester Police (GMP), Miss Howarth was found critically injured apparently from veering off the road and crashing into a tree in the early hours of yesterday morning, April 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 has since been arrested on suspicion of murder and taken in for questioning.

While Miss Howarth is believed to have been found in the driving seat of the car, an investigations 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 nearby the crash scene.

A spokesman for Greater Manchester Police said: “We can confirm that the woman who died in Bolton this morning 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.”