Three charged with 'assisting offender' in Pc Dave Phillips death case

Two women and a man have been charged in connection with the murder of Pc Dave Phillips.

The 34-year-old officer was hit by a Mitsubishi pick-up truck while trying to use a stinger device on the vehicle taken in a burglary last week.

He died in hospital shortly after the incident in Wallasey, Merseyside on October 5.

In a statement, Merseyside Police said: "We can confirm that three people have been charged with assisting an offender following the murder of Pc Dave Phillips in the early hours of Monday, 5 October 2015.

"Georgia Clarke, 19, of Knowsley Road, Wallasey; Dawn Cooper, 34, of Wheatland Lane, Wallasey, and Michael Smith, 19, of Widmore Road are charged with assisting an offender.

"They will appear at Wirral Magistrates' Court this morning."

On Wednesday a brief inquest hearing was opened and adjourned at Liverpool Coroner's Court to allow coroner Andre Rebello to formally register the death and release the body of the father of two to his family to prepare for his funeral.

His widow Jennifer formally identified Pc Phillips' body, the hearing was told, after the incident.

Mr Rebello said the officer was struck by the vehicle causing the fatal injuries.

He passed on his condolences to his family and adjourned the inquest until ongoing proceedings in the criminal courts are concluded.

Clayton Williams, 18, is accused of Pc Phillips' murder and other offences related to the incident and will appear for a further court hearing at Liverpool Crown on October 22.

A second defendant, Philip Mark Stuart, 30, of Prenton, Wirral, accused of burglary and aggravated vehicle-taking and death caused by an accident, after allegedly being carried in the Mitsubishi, is scheduled to appear on the same day as Williams.