PC Harper died in August last year Why you can trust Sky News The series of events that led to the "gruesome discovery" of PC Andrew Harper lying injured on a country lane has been played out to a court. Andrew Harper and a fellow officer were responding to a report of a burglary, after which Harper was dragged behind a car causing his death. [22], On 17 August, Thames Valley Police's Major Crimes Unit stated that a post mortem performed the previous day gave Harper's cause of death as "multiple injuries", which was congruent with their theory that he had been "caught between a vehicle and the road, and then dragged for a distance". Judge Mr Justice Edis ruled it necessary to put measures in place to ensure the jury was not intimidated, even though the risk was "low". Mrs Harper said: "Should I speak again of how we were robbed of our future or the plans stolen from us? 'How could he possibly survive if the car continued to be driven away and for some distance?'. The widow was speaking before her husband's teenage killers were sentenced following their manslaughter conviction last week. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. "In answer to the question: how has Andrew's death impacted me? The police officer Andrew Harper fell "as if his legs were whipped from under him" before being dragged to his death, a court has heard. Witness Jack Whittenham, who was driving on the same road at the time, described seeing the body of PC Harper being dragged along the road and hitting the curb, before becoming detached from the vehicle. Asked if he was home alone, Mr Wallis said: Yeah. The detective said the "challenge was always going to be identifying who was in the car at that particular time", due to it being used by several people. The series of events that led to the "gruesome discovery" of PC Andrew Harper lying injured on a country lane has been played out to a court. 'During the course of that high-speed journey, and until at last he became disentangled, his police uniform was quite literally ripped and stripped from his body. Tributes from Pc Harper's family have been left on Facebook with his grandmother, Maureen Shrimpton, writing: "Just a really horrible day. 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. A brave man protecting us all and just doing his job.". "I have sat in the mortuary of my son's covered body, too damaged for me to see. [33] The following day, the 11-person jury retired to deliberate. "Every aspect of my life since Andrew was taken is bitterly different.". 'The officer would be killed. Detective Superintendent Ailsa Kent, of Thames Valley Major Crime Unit, said the 28-year-old died of multiple injuries while responding to a burglary. 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. He approved measures to provide a private room for jurors to use throughout the trial and ordered that anyone using the public gallery must provide photographic identification. It was a decision that would cost PC Harper his life. Read about our approach to external linking. A great cop, a great man, a great friend. A MAN has been charged with the murder of PC Andrew Harper as he investigated a burglary in Berkshire last week. I just knew he was in trouble.". 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. [5][28][29], The trial was temporarily suspended on 17 and 18 March as a member of the jury was unwell. 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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. A few locals out walking dogs in the light drizzle were seen stopping to stare as the convoy went by. 'They had thought through and carefully planned the offence. 'It was going beyond the call of duty, as it were, and it would cost Andrew Harper his life.'. PC Andrew Harper was responding to a reported theft four hours past the end of his shift when his ankles got caught in a tow rope attached to the suspects' getaway car. [37], On 4 August, the Attorney General's Office confirmed that it had received a request to review the sentences under the unduly lenient sentence scheme. Members of the public lined the streets to watch the funeral procession,[43] and over 800 people attended the service including Home Secretary Priti Patel and Oxford West and Abingdon MP Layla Moranboth of whom later paid respect to Harper in the House of Commons. [18], Shaw lost sight of the SEAT but in his pursuit found Harper's stab vest in the road. The 28-year-old's death, in Berkshire, left the country stunned and has this week. As PC Harper tried to apprehend one of the suspects, his ankles got caught on a tow rope attached to their Seat Toldeo and he was dragged to his death. "Andrew will never grace us with his smile - his compassion and selfless generosity. [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. "So proud of him. PC Andrew Harper was killed while attending a reported burglary in a rural area of Berkshire. This new jury heard how Long, 19, Bowers and Cole, both 18, had hitched a Honda quad bike to the back of a Seat Toledo at a home near Stanford Dingley, Berkshire, and made off into the darkness as the vehicle's owner dialled 999. Who was Ukrainian minister Denys Monastyrsky? 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. "Our superman, our bodyguard, our light in the dark. It is important that we continue to promote these adverts as our local businesses need as much support as possible during these challenging times. In the weeks following, PC Harper's widow and family members led a "Ride of Respect" involving thousands of motorcyclists, while 20,000 epaulettes and badges from around the world were used to create a 55ft (17m) long mural. 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. Something went wrong, please try again later. [12] The post mortem also showed that Harper had sustained a "very severe" brain injury;[23] a pathologist stated that it was likely Harper lost consciousness when he fell to the ground. [7][8] They had been expecting to go on their honeymoon in mid-August. , updated The body of PC Andrew Harper's was 'too damaged' for his family to see, his mum revealed in a heartbreaking victim impact statement. [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. 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. [15] At 23:30, Shaw received a radio transmission from another responding officer which warned of "a body in the road"; Shaw replied that he believed the body was that of Harper. Widow Mrs Harper told the court: "This is my third attempt at writing a statement. Harper and a fellow officer were responding to a report of a burglary, after which Harper was dragged behind a car for a mile at 50 to 70mph, causing his death. Prosecutor Jonathan Polnay pointed out two CCTV cameras attached to the closed village pub, which had a Union flag flying on the front bearing the message Thank You NHS. The trio made off down when PC Harper and PC Shaw confronted them head-on in their unmarked BMW. A coroner carried out a Post Mortem report to determine the cause of death, which has been recorded as "multiple injuries". Reply 21 13 slipperman GCM If you are dissatisfied with the response provided you can Paramedics pronounced PC Harper's death at 23:45 on August 15 2019. As the documentary recalled. PC Harper had been trying to apprehend teenagers who had stolen a quad bike when he became entangled in a tow strap behind their SEAT Toledo. He will be loved forever.". In the call played in court, Mr Wallis said they had hand-held things and were all masked, as he asked the operator to send someone to his house. Harper, a 28-year-old Thames Valley police officer, was . Love from Nan and Bubba xxx". Registered in England & Wales | 01676637 |. Oh, they are stealing my quad bike, Im going out there now., The operator told him not to go out, but Mr Wallis said: I dont care, Ive got to protect that bike., The operator said officers were on their way, adding: You cant go out there if theyve got a weapon, you are going to be hurt., He responds: Theres all sorts of pieces of wood out there, they can pick up anything. "He will never get to be called 'daddy' or hold his own child - we imagined this was not too far away in the future. You obviously did your best to attend to Pc Harper. An officer has shared the moment he made the gruesome discovery of PC Andrew Harper who was lying gravely injured in a country lane. In a statement read in court, he said: For a very brief second I thought the body had been a deer I quickly realised it was a person. 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.". In one picture the couple can be seen smiling as they cut their wedding cake with a sign next to them reading "happily ever Harper". PC Andrew Harper died in August last year, Police officers at the scene in Berkshire where PC Harper was killed, Artist impression of Henry Long (L) Albert Bowers (C) and Jessie Cole (R) at the Old Bailey. Proceedings were halted to discuss measures to safeguard jurors after someone in the public gallery was seen pointing at them. Harper, the passenger of the BMW, alighted the police vehicle and ran to the suspects' vehicle. She confirmed that the arrests were made at a council-run caravan and mobile home site, Four Houses Corner, in Reading Road near Burghfield Common. The policemen switched their blue and white emergency lights on, and PC Harper ran to intercept Cole - coming 'pretty close' to grabbing the suspect - before Cole 'dived' through one of the windows. My sister's first born. 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. Joe Middleton For Mailonline 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. Detective Superintendent Ailsa Kent of the Major Crime Unit said: Our complex investigation into the death of PC Andrew Harper continues and I want to take this opportunity to provide an update. In August 2019, PC Andrew Harper was just 28 years old and almost one month in to his marriage to new wife Lissie, the love of his life and his partner for the previous 13 years. It looked like a rag doll.. PC Harper's colleagues have been laying floral tributes at the scene, with one message describing the officer as "Thames Valley's finest". 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'. Ms Kent also urged the public not to speculate on the circumstances of the incident. "I have used every word possible to describe this torture - indescribable trauma I have been forced to endure these past 11 months. An officer on duty with Pc Harper was not physically injured but is being provided with emotional support, he added. It will be obvious to you all that none of the defendants could possibly have intended that that should happen. PC Harper and his crew mate PC Andrew Shaw responded to the call even though their shift had ended. We are devastated. Relatives of PC Harper have also paid tribute on social media to the "loveliest person that you will ever meet". He was dragged for. The Thames Valley Police officer, 28, died after being dragged for more than a mile along . It's clear he has a catastrophic series of injuries and there's nothing that can be done for him.". Advertisement. Sense of injustice lingers after Seoul Halloween crush, Chess gets a risqu makeover. As Pc Harper tried to apprehend one the suspects, his ankles got caught on a tow rope attached to their Seat Toledo and he was dragged to his death. [26] Bowers and Coleboth minors at the time of the offence and originally protected by Section 39 of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933pleaded guilty to conspiracy to steal a quad bike[15] but denied manslaughter. As always you can unsubscribe at any time. 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Please report any comments that break our rules. Pc Shaw later discovered his colleague's body. Mrs Adlam said her "first born had been ripped" from her, adding: "I haven't been able to work for fear of breaking down, my mind just isn't in the right place, my anxiety is overpowering. [14] In a separate operation, a 20-year-old man from Pingewood was arrested on suspicion of murder. contact the editor here. PC Harper died after being dragged for more than a mile when his ankles became entangled in a tow rope attached to the car driven by Long as he fled the scene of an attempted quad bike theft in. As news. Following a pause, he continued: F*** me, theyve already taken it.. In a murder trial reconstruction on Wednesday, more than a dozen uniformed police officers stood silent guard as jurors visited the place, in Stanford Dingley, Berkshire, where PC Harper died in the line of duty. 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. "[48] The law was added to the statute book on 28 April 2022[49] and is now law. Peter Wallis dialled 999 to say he could see "four masked men" brandishing weapons. I have no motivation or even daily routine - chores or cooking a meal, it just feels pointless now. 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. PC Harper, 28, was dragged for more than a mile along the country lanes of Berkshire when he became entangled in a tow rope attached to the teenagers' getaway car. Sorry, we are not accepting comments on this article. I cant begin to tell you how we feel. 2023 BBC. www.bbc.co.uk One charged with his murder. 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