"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. Mr Laidlaw said: ' Despite it being well beyond the end of their shift, because they were close and because thought they could help, they responded to the call. The driver of the car, Henry Long, 19, and passengers Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers, both 18, from near Reading, have all admitted conspiracy to steal the quad bike, but have denied the murder of PC Harper. Grieving officers lay tributes for killed newlywed colleague Pc Andrew Harper. On Saturday, forensics officers were seen searching a caravan site on Padworth Road around three miles away from the scene, with two vans appearing to block the entrance. PC Andrew Harper was dragged behind a car after responding to a reported quad bike theft in August 2019 (Picture: PA) Henry Long, 19, has admitted the manslaughter of the Thames Valley Police. Proceedings were halted to discuss measures to safeguard jurors after someone in the public gallery was seen pointing at them. As their sentences for conspiracy to steal and for manslaughter were to run concurrently, their overall sentences were not affected. [14] In a separate operation, a 20-year-old man from Pingewood was arrested on suspicion of murder. Harry Howard Earlier, jurors had boarded a grey coach at the Old Bailey in central London and travelled to Berkshire for a first-hand view of key locations in the tragedy. Video report by ITV News Correspondent Lucy Watson. "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.". NSW ZEALAND CASUALTIES. Tributes from Pc Harper's family have been left on Facebook with his grandmother, Maureen Shrimpton, writing: "Just a really horrible day. Who was Ukrainian minister Denys Monastyrsky? Sense of injustice lingers after Seoul Halloween crush, Chess gets a risqu makeover. RIP mate, love you. PC Harper slid and lost his footing 'as if while water ski-ing' before being whipped forward by his ankles, prosecutors claim. 'They had thought through and carefully planned the offence. He said there was no evidence Bowers or Cole attempted to persuade Long to stop the vehicle. PC Andrew Harper was killed in Berkshire on Thursday, Police officers have been at a caravan site near to the scene where PC Harper was killed, Tributes to PC Harper have been laid at the scene, One message described PC Harper as "Thames Valley's finest", PC Harper got married to his fiance Lissie just four weeks ago. "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. "Pc Harper was a beautiful young soul. By Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner, Matthew Barber, said he had received messages from members of the public whom PC Harper had helped. On August 17 2019, Thames Valley Police's . They were acquitted on the charge of murder. The defendants have admitted conspiring to steal the quad bike but have denied Pc Harper's murder. [37], On 19 August 2020, Bowers and Cole made applications for permission to appeal against their convictions for manslaughter, and against the sentences that they had received. As Long drove around the police car to escape, PC Harper got out of his vehicle and tried to apprehend Cole, who had unhitched the bike and was running behind the Seat driven by Long. [33], On 31 July, Long was sentenced to 16 years and both Bowers and Cole to 13 years in prison. Their sentences in respect of the manslaughter convictions were not altered. His fellow officers "desperately tried to save him" but he had. Long had previously pleaded guilty to the same charge. You obviously did your best to attend to Pc Harper. Chef, Sarah and Harry.". Newsquest Media Group Ltd, Loudwater Mill, Station Road, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire. Deborah Adlam, the mother of PC Andrew Harper, said her first-born had been "ripped" from her, PC Andrew Harper was killed by three teenagers trying to steal a quad bike, Lissie Harper, the widow of PC Andrew Harper, Lissie and Andrew had been married for just one month when he was killed, PC Andrew Harper and his wife, Lissie, celebrating their wedding, (left to right), Henry Long, 19, Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers, both 18, were convicted of manslaughter. "Feet whipped forward and you land on your back - that's how Harps fell," PC Shaw said. Jurors stopped briefly to examine posts at the side of the road on Lambdens Hill before disembarking at the A4 crossing. ', The comments below have not been moderated, By The victim was likely knocked unconscious from the moment he hit the ground with a post-mortem revealing 'very serious injury to the brain,' the court heard. 13:30 EST 01 Jul 2020 inaccuracy or intrusion, then please It's clear he has a catastrophic series of injuries and there's nothing that can be done for him.". A great cop, a great man, a great friend. Pc Shaw told jurors he set off in the car to find his colleague and came across his stab vest further down the lane. We are no longer accepting comments on this article. [12][18] The SEAT crossed the A4 into Ufton Lane near Sulhamstead, and Harper became disentangled. POLICE detectives have revealed the cause of death of PC Andrew Harper following the murder investigation which launched on Thursday night (August 15). PC Harper, who got married four weeks ago, was killed on the A4 Bath Road. Her campaign proposes that those convicted of manslaughter over the death of a blue-light worker while committing a crime should . Newlywed Pc Andrew Harper, 28, became entangled in a tow rope attached to their Seat Toledo as he tried to catch them and was dragged to his death. 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. Pc Shaw later discovered his colleague's body. "There will always be a part of my heart missing now. 'The three, effectively acting together as one, were determined to make good their escape at whatever the cost and regardless of the harm that anybody standing in their way may come to.'. Det Supt Blaik said the defendants made a "conscious decision" "not to assist the police" and said their family and friends had tried to "frustrate" the investigation. Harper's killing led to the passing of Harper's Law, which introduced a mandatory sentence of life imprisonment for anyone convicted of killing emergency workers. Homeowner Peter Wallis called 999 to report a group stealing his quad bike in Stanford Dingley, Berkshire, at 11.17pm on 15 August last year. [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). The 'endless loop' tow rope, which Pc Harper got caught in, had been re-attached to the rear of the Seat for the jury to see. PC Harper was killed last August when he was dragged for more than a mile behind a car after trying to intercept quad bike thieves. PC Andrew Harper was killed while responding to a report of a quad bike being stolen by masked men, PC Harper married his childhood sweetheart Lissie four weeks before his death, Wallingford turned blue for Andrew Harper, Hundreds of motorbikes packed out RAF Benson to pay tribute to PC Harper, Officers lined the streets as the cortege travelled through Oxford, Henry Long, Albert Bowers, and Jessie Cole (l-r), all from travelling families, left school well before they were 16 and had a long history of stealing, The strap PC Harper got caught in was attached to a Seat Toledo, PC Harper was dragged for more than a mile by the car, PC Harper died after his ankles became entangled in a tow-strap attached to a car. 'With Jessie Cole now in the car, Henry Long drove off at speed, flooring the accelerator to make good their escape. PC Harper's colleagues have been laying floral tributes at the scene, with one message describing the officer as "Thames Valley's finest". [3] He was educated at The Henley College, where he showed an ambition for joining the police. [47], On November 24, 2021, the Ministry of Justice announced that they would introduce "Harper's Law", a bill extending mandatory life sentences to "anyone who commits the manslaughter of an emergency worker on duty including police, prison officers, firefighters and paramedics while carrying out another crime unless there are truly exceptional circumstances. [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. His funeral was. Instead, he came across what turned out to be PC Harper's stab vest in the road, which had been torn from him. Pc Harper, who has been described by his uncle as the "loveliest person that you will ever meet", married his wife Lissie just four weeks ago. [42], Harper's funeral was held on 14 October 2019 at Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford. A small circle of blue and white painted stones had been laid on the verge in tribute to the officer, with one saying 'when your heart stopped beating a part of me died'. "I love and miss him daily with every passing moment. We continue our appeal to anyone with any information about this incident to contact police by visiting our website or calling 101. The jury went on to view the 10,000 red Honda quad bike parked in the drive outside its owner's period property, as it had been on the night it was snatched. Who was Ukrainian minister Denys Monastyrsky? On the night of 15 August 2019, PC Harper responded with a colleague to a 999 call about a quad bike theft, despite it being four hours past the end of their shifts. As a subscriber, you are shown 80% less display advertising when reading our articles. On Wednesday, a jury in their retrial retraced the route the thieves took, walking the final leg across the A4 to view the place where PC Harper died. Joe Middleton For Mailonline, Russian pro-war fanatic warns Britain could be 'wiped off the map'. PC Andrew Harper died a hero in the line of duty. The teenagers soon found themselves face to face with PC Harper and PC Andrew Shaw, who were in an unmarked police BMW. Police forces,. [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. However, the trial collapsed due to the coronavirus lockdown. All three were standing trial for murder, but the jury found them guilty. "Nobody's been given a script it just seemed to take hold," said PC Harper's friend Andy Ledbury, who put up a blue ribbon outside his plant nursery. Earlier today we sought a 36 hour extension to their custody, and this was granted at Reading Magistrates Court. Therefore, I would reiterate our plea for the public and the media not to speculate on the circumstances of the incident while the investigation is ongoing.". Deborah Adlam spoke after her son's killers Henry Long, 19 . 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. Deborah Adlam spoke after her son's killers Henry Long, 19, Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers, both 18, where convicted of manslaughter, saying she now has "no motivation" in life. [3][11][12] At 23:28, Shaw and Harper happened upon a SEAT Toledo towing the stolen quad bike on Admoor Lane near Bradfield Southend. The Old Bailey was told how Mr Wallis confronted the thieves earlier in the day and was at home when they returned after dark, in gloves and masks. These adverts enable local businesses to get in front of their target audience the local community. "They came round earlier and now they're at my property in Stanford Dingley.". His grandmother Maureen Shrimpton wrote: "Just a really horrible day. 'He was barely alive and PC Harper died soon after where he lay in Ufton Lane in the company of fellow officers who had tried desperately to save him. We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. But while his colleagues mourned the death of one of their own, detectives were required to push emotions aside for the murder investigation. HP10 9TY. On 15 August 2019, 28-year-old English police constable Andrew Harper was killed near Sulhamstead, Berkshire, England in the line of duty. However, how he came to be between the vehicle in the first place is unknown at this point. The cause of death is consistent with details that PC Harper was caught between a vehicle and the road and dragged under it for a distance. She added: "Every ounce of beautiful peace - gone. On 16 December 2020 the Court of Appeal dismissed: The vehicle, surrounded by police tape and a floodlight, was partially visible through a gap in the fence. The court convoy was flanked by police cars and more officers lined the curb of the busy A4, which was temporarily closed to allow the jury to cross. The trio made off down when PC Harper and PC Shaw confronted them head-on in their unmarked BMW. 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. Det Supt Blaik said PC Harper "paid the ultimate price" for going beyond the call of duty, but added "that is what police officers do up and down the country, day in and day out". Pc Shaw turned his vehicle around, expecting to find PC Harper waiting for him. Police officers launched a murder probe following a "serious incident" which took place at around 11.30pm near to the crossroads of Ufton Lane and Lambdens Hill, near Sulhampstead between Reading and Newbury. They then spent half an hour examining the thieves' battered silver Seat parked nose to nose with PC Harper's dark grey police car in a reconstruction of their 'confrontation' in Admoor Lane. The trio admitted conspiring to steal a quad bike along with Thomas King, 21, from Basingstoke. Detectives investigating the death of a police officer have said he died of "multiple injuries", as they were given more time to question 10 suspects. ", After a pause, he adds: "F*** me they've already taken it.". In the call, Mr Wallis added: Theres all sorts of pieces of wood out there, they can pick up anything. [38], On 21 August, the Attorney-General applied for permission to refer the killers' sentences to the Court of Appeal on the basis that she considered them to be "unduly lenient". Mr Laidlaw said Pcs Harper and Shaw, in an unmarked BMW, drove onto Admoor Lane where they came face-to-face with the SEAT Toledo, driven by Long. The type of strap has been variously identified as either a crane strap, List of British police officers killed in the line of duty, "PC Harper's mum adds name to petition on 'miscarriage of justice', "Family hails 'hero' PC as police fall silent", "College pays tribute to murdered officer", "PC Andrew Harper murder trial shown footage of search for police officer", "PC Andrew Harper murder inquiry: police search caravan site", "The emotional message PC Harper's widow wrote after Ride of Respect", "Widow thanks 5,000 bikers who joined PC's tribute", "PC murder trial hears quad bike owner's 999 call", "PC Harper dragged along more than a mile to his death, court hears", "Police release PC Andrew Harper's cause of death", "Dashcam footage from killed PC's car shown to jury", "PC Andrew Harper's body seen 'tumbling' in road, court hears", "Colleague 'could not recognise' killed PC", "Self-isolating jurors discharged in PC death trial", "Officer describes moment PC Andrew Harper was dragged by car", "PC was 'dragged behind car for more than a mile', "Police officer dragged behind car for more than a mile in 'completely senseless killing', court hears", "PC Andrew Harper: Ten remain in custody as traveller site is raided", "Family of seven about to lose their home on traveller site gain a day's reprieve", "Charges dropped against man accused of PC Andrew Harper murder", "PC Harper murder trial: Officer died in 'shocking circumstances', "CPS further update in relation to the investigation into PC Harper's death | The Crown Prosecution Service", "PC Andrew Harper murder trial: two admit plot to steal quad bike", "PC murder accused teens admit bike theft plot", "Three teenagers charged with murder of PC Andrew Harper", "PC Andrew Harper murder trial suspended", "PC Harper: Three teenagers who dragged newly married officer to his death show no remorse as they are jailed", "PC Andrew Harper murder trial: Case of 'utmost importance', court told", "PC Andrew Harper's widow writes to PM asking for retrial of killers", "Jury retires in police officer murder trial", "PC Andrew Harper: No truth jurors pressured, says judge", "Bid to increase PC Harper's killers' sentences", "Two of PC Andrew Harper's killers to appeal against convictions", "PC Harper's killers' sentences to be reviewed", "PC Andrew Harper: Henry Long to appeal against manslaughter sentence", "Killer of PC Andrew Harper 'should get life sentence', "Long & Ors v R. [2020] EWCA Crim 1729 (16 December 2020)", "PC Andrew Harper: Hundreds of mourners attend funeral", "Wife of fallen police officer accepts posthumous honour award in his memory", "Police horse named Harper after killed officer", "PC Andrew Harper's widow launches 'Andrew's Law' campaign", "Boost for public safety as four justice bills receive Royal Assent", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Killing_of_Andrew_Harper&oldid=1132311582, This page was last edited on 8 January 2023, at 07:36. During the investigation, police officers and staff took 1,250 statements, visited more than 1,000 homes and pursued 1,122 lines of inquiry. BerkshireLive email updates: We . PC Andrew Harper from the roads policing unit at Abingdon Police Station was attending a reported burglary and was killed while performing his duties. 'With his ankles caught in a strap that was trailing behind a car being driven along a country lane, he was dragged at speed for over a mile along the road surface, swung from side to side like a pendulum in an effort to dislodge him. Three teenagers are on trial at the Old Bailey accused of murder over an incident in Berkshire last August. A group of officers could be seen gathered around floral tributes reading messages to their fallen colleague. Something went wrong, please try again later. Sense of injustice lingers after Seoul Halloween crush, Chess gets a risqu makeover. Detective supt Kent added: I want to thank local residents for their patience and cooperation while we carried out this vital work, and other enquiries at a number of other scenes across West Berkshire. We also may change the frequency you receive our emails from us in order to keep you up to date and give you the best relevant information possible. '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. It looked like a rag doll.. 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. Is it time Harry & Meghan accept Clarkson's apology and move on? Now his devastated wife of just 28 days has released a heartbreaking tribute to her . PC Harper, who became a regular officer in 2011 after joining as a special constable a year earlier, had attended the reported break-in at about 23:30 BST with a fellow officer. 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