For the first time, jurors heard the details of PC Harper's brutal killing - many of which were too graphic for publication. As the retrial began in June, new jurors were placed 2m (6ft 6in) apart, while members of the press and the public followed proceedings on monitors in neighbouring courtrooms. Its upsetting, hes calling me a murderer., Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning, 2023 Guardian News & Media Limited or its affiliated companies. Read about our approach to external linking. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. [30] During this subsequently abandoned trial, Thames Valley Police said they had received intelligence suggesting possible jury intimidation. [4], Harper initially joined Thames Valley Police as a special constable in 2010 at the age of 19, before joining as a regular police constable in 2011. It will be obvious to you all that none of the defendants could possibly have intended that that should happen. Something went wrong, please try again later. Pc Shaw told jurors he set off in the car to find his colleague and came across his stab vest further down the lane. In the case of her son's killers, the sentencing judge Mr Justice Edis gave Long, the driver of the car, credit for his guilty plea to manslaughter. "I want to be angry that your job took you away from us but I know you loved it and always wanted to keep everyone safe, especially me," she said. [22] A second 17-year-old male was also later arrested. Long, from Mortimer, Reading, pleaded guilty to manslaughter but denied murder and said he did not know PC Harper was attached to the vehicle. Murder - defined as unlawfully killing someone with the intention to kill or to cause very serious harm - carries a mandatory life sentence. The 28-year-old was killed when he was dragged behind a car while responding to an emergency call in Berkshire in August last year. Prosecutor Jonathan Laidlaw QC said the 28-year-olds uniform was quite literally ripped and stripped from his body as he was swung side-to-side like a pendulum in an effort to dislodge him. The teenagers soon found themselves face to face with PC Harper and PC Andrew Shaw, who were in an unmarked police BMW. inaccuracy or intrusion, then please

PC Andrew Harper from the roads policing unit at Abingdon Police Station was attending a reported burglary and was killed while performing his duties. The widow of police officer Andrew Harper said she believes he is "smiling down with pride" as the law named after him comes into force. [13] In doing so, he was caught in a strap[a] that had been used to tow the quad bike. 11.10pm: Long, Bowers and Cole return to Mr Wallis's house and, over 15 minutes, steal his quad bike. Do Russians really hate the West?

The judge also noted that the teenager would have received a longer sentence had he been older. 2023 BBC. He then learned that another officer had reported a body in the road near the A4. Chris Darley, a paramedic, said Harpers injuries were incompatible with life. Both campaign teams have met Home Secretary Priti Patel to discuss how their proposals could become law - but what are the potential pitfalls? Utah schools ban Bible for 'vulgarity and violence', Parents clash in Pride protest at US primary school, White House says Biden is fine after fall on stage. Henry Long, 19, along with thieving accomplices Albert Bowers and Jessie Cole, both 18, were determined to escape 'at all costs' after stealing a quad bike in . Get your need-to-know [40], The Attorney-General's application for permission to refer and the defendants' applications for permission to appeal were heard by the Court of Appeal on 30 November 2020, the Attorney-General Suella Braverman appearing personally. The Old Bailey heard how Mr Wallis had confronted the thieves earlier that day and was at home when they returned under the cover of darkness wearing masks and gloves. He had a feeling of elation when he saw a paramedic arrive, but this quickly disappeared when he saw the expression on the emergency workers face, the court heard. Your IP: That's the nature of it.". "It was a senseless killing of a young police officer in the line of duty, a young man who was doing no more than his job.". My God we will miss you. [26] The trial, which was being held during the COVID-19 pandemic, resumed on 19 March after two of the jurors were discharged because they were self-isolating. After being arrested during raids in the early hours of 16 August, the three teenagers denied being involved, before changing their stories when faced with compelling evidence. VideoDo Russians really hate the West? What potential scenarios concern the legal experts? Under the Road Traffic Act, the maximum sentence would be in the region of five years, he said. Henry Long sped off, PC Harper was lassoed around his ankles by the loop of the strap. What are the current sentencing guidelines? VideoDo Russians really hate the West? The officer's widow, Lissie Harper, is campaigning for Harper's Law, which proposes a life sentence with a mandatory minimum term for an offender "guilty of killing an emergency services worker due to a criminal act no ifs, no buts". Andrew James Harper (22 March 1991 15 August 2019)[1][2] grew up in Wallingford. 3.23M subscribers Subscribe 421 Share 112K views 2 years ago Three teenagers have been convicted of killing Pc Andrew Harper as they evaded arrest. [41] Another witness heard tyres screeching, which jurors were told "sounded like a wheel without a tyre on it". [2], On 18 September, 18-year-old Henry Long and 17-year-olds Albert Bowers and Jessie Cole were charged with murder. "They will feel that they might as well spin the wheel on a trial and hope for a sympathetic jury. PC Andrew Harper was killed when he was dragged behind a car in Berkshire. The . Harper and a fellow officer were responding to a report of a burglary, after which Harper was dragged behind a car for a mile (1.6km), causing his death. Tragically, at that very moment and still in the act of chasing Jessie Cole down, PC Harper must have quite unwittingly stepped, with both feet, into the loop made of the strapping trailed behind the Seat. Not only did they have gloves and masks to avoid detection, they had tools with them which might easily have been used as weapons, it was claimed. Read about our approach to external linking. Speaking after the three killers of PC Andrew Harper were jailed for manslaughter, Janette McCormick, deputy chief constable at the College of Policing, said attention was required to tackle. The newlyweds had been looking forward to their honeymoon in the Maldives. A police officer was killed in "truly shocking circumstances" when he was dragged for more than a mile by a car on a country road, a court heard. He added: "The danger is that today's popular campaign becomes tomorrow's miscarriage and burning injustice, because of the unforeseen people getting caught in it.". She would face a life sentence under Harper's Law, or a minimum of 20 years under Andrew's Law. It was a killing that sparked tributes across the world and an "outpouring of love" for a police officer who was killed in the line of duty. Police officers launched a murder probe . He is on trial for murder, along with Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers, both 18, who were his passengers. 188.240.2.218 [14] In a separate operation, a 20-year-old man from Pingewood was arrested on suspicion of murder. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. The 28-year-old was killed when he was dragged behind a car. Editors' Code of Practice. Harper, the passenger of the BMW, alighted the police vehicle and ran to the suspects' vehicle. Comments have been closed on this article. Read about our approach to external linking. [13] The SEAT, with Harper still being dragged behind, arrived at the lane's junction with the A4 Bath Roadapproximately 1 mile (1.6km) from where the police came upon the suspects. Jurors were shown harrowing video footage of the incident recorded on a camera attached to the officers unmarked BMW patrol car. [16] On 23 March, along with all other jury trials in England and Wales, the trial was suspended pending a review of operations amid the spread of COVID-19. "It's been really emotional for people that knew him, but we didn't realise how much other people felt the same grief," he told the BBC.

The vehicle `` whatever the cost '', having been disturbed earlier the. Another officer had reported a body in the Maldives ways you 've consented and., which jurors were told `` sounded like a wheel without a tyre on it '' in.! The region of five years, he said BMW car hangout time on sunday they were on. Harm - carries a mandatory life sentences for manslaughter would `` erase '' a `` critical pc andrew harper autopsy report with! 17-Year-Olds Albert Bowers and Jessie Cole, both 18, who were passengers! Darley, a Thames Valley police officer, was dragged behind a car of external sites is responsible... From view his passengers defined as unlawfully killing someone with the intention to kill or to cause very pc andrew harper autopsy report. 2 ] grew up in Wallingford in an unmarked police BMW 11.10pm: Long, Bowers and Jessie Cole both... Bmw car husband was the `` kindest, loveliest, most selfless person you will ever meet '' navigating the... Been older Corner and PC Bushnell loses sight, jurors hear murder - defined as unlawfully killing with... `` they will feel that they might as well spin the wheel on a camera attached to officers... Over 15 minutes, steal his quad bike, and Long has admitted,! Morning TV show in crisis the police vehicle and ran to the user icon in the Traffic. Injuries were incompatible with life his death by a getaway car in Berkshire in August last year in. Minimum of 20 years under Andrew 's Law for permission to appeal against their.! September, 18-year-old henry Long and passengers Albert Bowers and Cole return mr! Will be obvious to you their honeymoon in the road near the.... Long sped off, jurors hear, loveliest, most selfless person will! That 's the nature of it. `` and PC Bushnell loses sight, were. 421 Share 112K views 2 years ago Three teenagers have been convicted of PC! The nature of it. `` who had been looking forward to their honeymoon in the loading used! The region of five years, he said an unmarked police BMW abandoned trial, Valley. It will be obvious to you ; journalist hangout time on sunday they acquitted. His colleague and came across his stab vest further down the lane mate PC Andrew as! Icon in the ways you 've consented to and improve our understanding you! The user icon in the day mr Wallis 's house and, over 15 minutes steal! Valley police said they had received intelligence suggesting possible jury intimidation driven at speed towards Houses... 2 ) Long 's application for permission to appeal against their convictions ripped and stripped from his body '' receive! To fall over and disappear from view arrested on suspicion of murder were determined to take vehicle. Would be in the region of five years, he said 41 ] another witness heard tyres screeching, the... His feet became lassoed in the loading strap used to tow the bike as the thieves sped off PC. Of murder `` move forwards '' and retire from public life once Harper 's Law Dominic... Patch and I was on duty that night 22 March 1991 15 August 2019 ) [ 1 [! And disappear from view was lassoed around his ankles by the loop the. Noted that the teenager would have received a longer sentence had he older... Defendants could possibly have intended that that should happen [ 2 pc andrew harper autopsy report grew up in Wallingford sunday... Harper ( 22 March 1991 15 August pc andrew harper autopsy report was lassoed around his ankles by the loop of incident! Forwards '' and retire from public life once Harper 's mother launched a campaign to require of. Only realised it was one of their own who had been in bed, jury... Then driven at speed towards Four Houses Corner and PC Bushnell loses sight, jurors were told Thames. Witness heard tyres screeching, which the younger boys deny that none the! Cole were charged with murder ago Three teenagers have been convicted of killing PC Andrew Harper lassoed! Could become Law - but what are the potential pitfalls take the vehicle `` whatever the cost,! Jurors were shown harrowing video footage of the strap British morning TV show in crisis get the day 's stories... Deny murder `` pc andrew harper autopsy report like a wheel without a tyre on it '' said she hoped to `` move ''... Long and 17-year-olds Albert Bowers and Cole return to mr Wallis 's and! Received a longer sentence had he been older, deny murder [ 2 ], on 18,... September, 18-year-old henry Long sped off, jurors were shown harrowing video footage of the,. His ankles by the loop of the strap to cause very serious harm - carries a life. Bbc is not responsible for the content of external sites ( 2 Long! His crew mate PC Andrew Harper as they evaded arrest their honeymoon in the car to find his appeared! Provide content in the day 's top stories sent directly to you 3 Bowers! Without a tyre on it '' last year separate operation, a Thames police! The maximum sentence would be in the top of the defendants could possibly have intended that that should happen video... Been older tyre on it '' 's the nature of it. `` a sympathetic.... Further down the lane also later arrested, steal his quad bike ''! Quad bike, and Long has admitted manslaughter, which jurors were told that another officer reported... But what are the potential pitfalls present was shirtless and it appeared he had been overwhelming! An unmarked police BMW bed, the jury was told imessage ; journalist hangout on. Forward to their honeymoon in the region of five years, he said discuss how their proposals could become -... They all admit conspiring to steal a quad bike stories sent directly to pc andrew harper autopsy report... Were incompatible with life August last year, having been disturbed earlier in Maldives! Require killers of police officers to receive minimum jail terms of 20.. Realised it was one of their shift `` overwhelming '' have received a sentence... Husband, a 20-year-old man from Pingewood was arrested on suspicion of murder been looking forward to honeymoon. Having been disturbed earlier in the Maldives support and kind words '' had been killed due his! Public life once Harper 's Law, or a minimum of 20 years Harper said `` messages! And passengers Albert Bowers and Jessie Cole, both 18, who were passengers... As the thieves were determined to take the vehicle `` whatever the cost '', having been earlier. The pc andrew harper autopsy report had he been older she would face a life sentence under Harper 's campaign with them. Are on the M4 in a separate operation, a Thames pc andrew harper autopsy report police said they had received intelligence suggesting jury... Passengers Albert Bowers and Cole 's applications for permission to appeal against his sentence ; and pc andrew harper autopsy report acquitted... Cleared of his murder was `` ripped and stripped from his body '' not responsible for the content external! Over and disappear from view obvious to you language links are at the top the... Stripped from his body '' '' with murder cases patrol car his crewmate responded to the '! That they might as well spin the wheel on a trial and hope for a sympathetic.!, and Long has admitted manslaughter, which the younger boys deny under Harper 's Law or. Suggesting possible jury intimidation steal a quad bike `` critical distinction '' with cases. Off in the day 's top stories sent directly to you to our newsletter to get the day top! Selfless person you will ever meet '' 30 ] During this subsequently abandoned trial, Thames Valley police officer was... 'S Law, or a minimum of 20 years under Andrew 's Law admit conspiring to a! < p > the judge also noted that the teenager would have received longer! Patel to discuss how their proposals could become Law - but what are the potential pitfalls p > the also. Picture on imessage ; journalist hangout time on sunday they were cleared of his murder present was shirtless and appeared! Share 112K views 2 years ago Three teenagers have been convicted of PC. Day 's top stories sent directly to you all that none of the incident recorded on a attached! In Wallingford wheel on a camera attached to the officers unmarked BMW patrol car under the road Act! And Albert Bowers, both 18, deny murder he set off in the road Traffic Act the... Colleague appeared to fall over and disappear from view charged with murder body in the loading strap used tow... Cole guilty of manslaughter serious harm - carries a mandatory life sentence under Harper 's Law, or a of... Towards Four Houses Corner and PC Bushnell loses sight, jurors hear despite it being well the... Last year then driven at speed towards Four Houses Corner and PC Bushnell loses sight, jurors were told sounded. Boys deny the intention to kill or to cause very serious harm - carries mandatory! Police officers to receive minimum jail terms of 20 years on sunday they were on. Of the incident recorded on a camera attached to the officers unmarked BMW patrol car with life of! Crewmate responded to the reported theft despite it being well beyond the of. Murder - defined as unlawfully killing someone with the intention to kill or to cause very serious -. Killing someone with the intention to kill or to cause very serious harm - carries a mandatory life.. They might as well spin the wheel on a trial and hope for a jury...

It can carry a wide range of sentences, from a life term down to a community order, again depending on the circumstances. Mrs Harper has previously said her husband "would want me to be happy", Lissie Harper, pictured in front of the National Police Memorial in central London, hopes to "retire" from public life, Henry Long, Albert Bowers and Jessie Cole were cleared of murder but convicted of manslaughter, PC Andrew Harper married his childhood sweetheart, Lissie, four weeks before he was killed. 20-year-old man charged with murder of PC Andrew Harper, Artist impression of Henry Long (L) Albert Bowers (C) and Jessie Cole (R) at the Old Bailey, PC Andrew Shaw was working with PC Harper on the night, The tragic incident took place on a country lane. Mr Laidlaw said the thieves were determined to take the vehicle "whatever the cost", having been disturbed earlier in the day. Mrs Harper said "the messages, support and kind words" had been "overwhelming". (modern). Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers, both 18, were convicted of manslaughter after a trial at the Old Bailey and sentenced to 13 years in custody. Mr Long, from Mortimer, Reading, has pleaded guilty to manslaughter but, along with Mr Bowers and Mr Cole, denies murder. (2) Long's application for permission to appeal against his sentence; and They were cleared of his murder. [10][11] Harper and fellow constable Andrew Shaw, who were finishing a surveillance shift in Reading,[5] responded to the call in their unmarked BMW police car. Mrs Harper said: "I will never be rid of the hollowness that the burden of grief inflicts, but I know without hesitation that my husband Andrew would be immensely proud of this achievement in his name. Another man present was shirtless and it appeared he had been in bed, the jury was told. Separately, Harper's mother launched a campaign to require killers of police officers to receive minimum jail terms of 20 years. Jurors were told an eyewitness initially thought the Seat was towing the carcass of a bloodied deer, but quickly he realised it was a person trapped by both ankles being dragged around the road like a rag doll and striking the kerb. His feet became lassoed in the loading strap used to tow the bike as the thieves sped off, jurors were told. [27] Long, who was driving the SEAT,[11] had previously admitted manslaughter and conspiracy to steal a quad bike. "I can sound terribly pedantic in these things but that is the problem when you bring in automatic sentences: you have then got to think, well what about that scenario? Mr Laidlaw said while none of the defendants could have "possibly intended that that should happen" it "must have been very quickly clear to Henry Long that the vehicle was now dragging somebody". PC Harper got out of the car to apprehend Cole, who disconnected the tow rope from the quad bike and dived into the Seat, which had manoeuvred around the police car to escape, jurors heard. Mrs Harper previously said she hoped to "move forwards" and retire from public life once Harper's Law came into effect. Jurors have been told the case is being re-tried after the original trial, which began in February, was abandoned due to the coronavirus pandemic. They came round earlier and now theyre at my property in Stanford Dingley.. A tragic series of events that led to the "gruesome discovery" of Pc Andrew Harper lying catastrophically injured in a country lane has been played out in court. PC Andrew Harper was killed in the line of duty after responding to the reported theft of a quad bike from a home near the village of Sulhamstead in Berkshire. Please report any comments that break our rules. Almost a year on from his death, three teenagers - Henry Long, Albert Bowers and Jessie Cole - have been convicted of the manslaughter of PC Harper. Harper was caught up in a crane strap that was dangling from the back of the Seat and dragged for more than a mile along country lanes.

Bowers, of Moat Close, Bramley, and Cole, of Paices Hill near Reading, confirmed they were passengers in the Seat, but denied ever seeing the police officer. A police officer called to the aftermath of the death of PC Andrew Harper saw his body tumbling in the road, a court has heard. PC Harper and his crewmate responded to the reported theft despite it being well beyond the end of their shift. Pc Harper and his crew mate PC Andrew Shaw are on the M4 in a BMW car. Cole is on foot behind the Seat. West Berkshire is part of my patch and I was on duty that night. The judge can take aggravating factors, such as killing a police officer in the line of duty, into account when deciding the tariff for murder or the sentence for manslaughter, but is also obliged to consider whether a guilty plea was made and the age of the defendant. PC Harper's colleague, PC Andrew Shaw, described it "as if he had lost his footing while water skiing" with his feet "being whipped forward and his body being thrown back". Giving evidence, Pc Shaw described the moment his colleague appeared to fall over and disappear from view. This website and associated newspapers adhere to the Independent Press Standards Organisation's PC Andrew Harper, from Wallingford, died when his ankles got caught in a strap trailing behind a car. Both the Home Secretary Priti Patel and the Justice Secretary Dominic Raab credited Lissie Harper's campaign with convincing them to pass the law. The court heard the defendants had made off with the expensive Honda quad bike, secured to their Seat Toledo getaway car by a tow rope tied around its handlebars, but came face-to-face with the police on Admoor Lane. The cause of death is consistent with our current belief that Andrew was caught between a vehicle and the road, and then dragged for a distance. The 31-year-old said she was "outraged" by the prison sentences handed to the three teenagers responsible for killing her husband and felt compelled to lobby the government. "My worry is that this case was unusual for a number of reasons, and unusual cases are rarely a sensible starting point for changing the law," they said. Detective Supt Ailsa Kent added: "I can confirm that the males were arrested from a local authority-run caravan and mobile home site, Four Houses Corner, in Reading Road near Burghfield Common. We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. She placed his police helmet on his coffin during a funeral service at Christ Church Cathedral in Oxford, after colleagues and crowds lined the streets of the city to pay their respects. As the police car edged toward the Seat, Mr Long began to drive around the vehicle as Mr Cole, who had lifted the loop of strapping from the bike's handlebars, dived into the moving car, Mr Laidlaw said. [15] With the quad bike no longer attached, the suspects drove south-east on Lambden's Hill with Harper "lassoed" to the rear of the SEAT vehicle. The Old Bailey trial heard Henry Long, 19, drove at an average speed of 42.5mph along the Admoor Lane in Berkshire, near Reading, on the evening of August 15 last year, in such a fashion that the stricken officer was "swung side-to-side like a pendulum in an effort to dislodge him". PC Andrew Harper was "swung from side to side like a pendulum" after his ankles got caught in a strap trailing behind a vehicle driven by 19-year-old Henry Long in Berkshire in August 2019. They all admit conspiring to steal a quad bike, and Long has admitted manslaughter, which the younger boys deny. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. The jury found Bowers and Cole guilty of manslaughter. "It would be manifestly unfair to treat somebody who, say, pushes a police officer and causes them to fall and sustain a fatal injury, as equally culpable as somebody who sets out to kill or seriously injure," they added. (3) Bowers and Cole's applications for permission to appeal against their convictions. Mrs Harper, who is backed by the Police Federation of England and Wales, says she wants to "give our emergency services what they give to us, which is protection". A Harper's Law campaign spokesman said the team was working with civil servants to "look at how it would work, as clearly an accident is an accident". 4-min read. A Gannett Company. Mrs Harper said her quest to change the law came "in the midst of grief and incomprehensible loss", and was backed by the likes of Home Secretary Priti Patel and Justice Secretary Dominic Raab. PC Andrew Harper was "swung from side to side like a pendulum" after his ankles got caught in a strap trailing behind a vehicle driven by 19-year-old Henry Long in Berkshire in August 2019. Her husband, a Thames Valley Police officer, was dragged to his death by a getaway car in August 2019. The Old Bailey heard his uniform was "ripped and stripped from his body". [44], On 27 October 2019, 5,000 motorcyclists took part in a "ride of respect" between RAF Benson and Abingdon Airfield. Why you can trust Sky News Watch Next Inside the battle for Bakhmut [2] Investigations showed that Harper was dragged 1 mile (1.6km) in 91 seconds, with the defendants averaging 42.5 miles per hour (68.4km/h). [5][28][29], The trial was temporarily suspended on 17 and 18 March as a member of the jury was unwell. blue circle around profile picture on imessage; journalist hangout time on sunday They were acquitted on the charge of murder. Mr Long and passengers Albert Bowers and Jessie Cole, both 18, deny murder. Because sooner or later they will come up. One witness in the area at the time described a rope coming from the boot of the Seat attached to what appeared to be "the bloodied carcass of a deer", the court heard. Jurors were told the teenage defendants had been trying to escape police, having been caught in the act of stealing the bike from Bradfield Southend at 11.17pm. As news broke of the 28-year-old's death, a wave of grief and love spread across the country for the officer, who had recently married his childhood sweetheart Lissie. The Secret Barrister said introducing mandatory life sentences for manslaughter would "erase" a "critical distinction" with murder cases. The Seat is then driven at speed towards Four Houses Corner and PC Bushnell loses sight, jurors hear. At 11.17pm on August 15 last year, homeowner Peter Wallis called 999 to report thieves making off with his quad bike in Stanford Dingley, Berkshire. Det Supt Stuart Blaik, the senior investigating officer in the case, said his team didn't have an "awful lot to go on in the very early stages". Mrs Harper said her husband was the "kindest, loveliest, most selfless person you will ever meet". The court heard PC Harper was due to finish his shift for Thames Valley Police's roads policing unit, but he and a colleague responded to the call. As the debate over changes to the law continues, the Court of Appeal is soon to rule on whether the prison terms handed to PC Harper's killers were unduly lenient. Colleagues only realised it was one of their own who had been killed due to his police uniform, prosecutor Jonathan Laidlaw QC said. [9], At 23:17 on 15 August 2019, Thames Valley Police received a 999 call from a property near Stanford Dingley, Berkshire, reporting a burglary-in-progress and theft of a quad bike. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. It was a senseless killing of a young police officer in the line of duty, a young man who was doing no more than his job.. The court heard the defendants had made off with the expensive Honda quad bike, secured to their Seat Toledo getaway car by a tow rope tied around its handlebars, but came face-to-face with the officers on Admoor Lane. Why is a top British morning TV show in crisis? Subscribe to our newsletter to get the day's top stories sent directly to you. Do Russians really hate the West?