A PRELIMINARY hearing into the death of an unarmed man who was shot dead in Culcheth by police is set to take place later this year.

The events leading up to the death of Anthony Grainger, 36, from Bolton, are set to be examined during an inquiry starting January 16.

But a preliminary hearing is expected to take place at Liverpool Crown Court on November 14.

It is understood the inquiry will look at the police operation, the decision to send armed officers and any failures in gathering intelligence.

Mr Grainger was fatally wounded by a Greater Manchester Police firearms officer during a pre-planned operation while he was sat with two other people in a stolen Audi in March 2012.

The 36-year-old was sat in the front passenger seat of the car parked outside a Sainsbury's supermarket in Culcheth when the bullet came through the windscreen and hit him in the chest.

Mr Grainger's inquest at Warrington Coroner's Court was halted when the Independent Police Complaints Commission began to investigate.

Then earlier this year the Government announced it had agreed to upgrade the inquest to a public inquiry so that 'all relevant evidence' can be considered including confidential police documents.

Judge Thomas Teague, who is chairing the inquiry, held the opening session at Liverpool Crown Court yesterday, Tuesday, to set out the timeline for the inquiry to be held at the same crown court.