One witness who saw him being dragged along, Jack Whittenham, mistakenly thought he had seen an injured deer. They also deny manslaughter. The court also heard how driver Jack Whittenham saw the police officer's body attached to the back of the car as it reached the turn off at the A4, who too thought it was a bloodied deer. "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. The 17-year-olds admit conspiracy to steal but deny murder. Bowers was in the car as a passenger when PC Harper was killed. Andrew Harper, 28, suffered "utterly catastrophic" injuries as he was dragged to his death in Berkshire last August, a court has heard. Title Directed by Written by Original air date; 4 " Ruling Passion " Gareth Davies: Malcolm Bradbury: 14 June 1997 (): After being kept late by "The Fat Controller", as Ellie so bluntly puts it, Pascoe and his wife finally head out on their romantic weekend break to meet up with some old friends, only to find a house full of dead bodies and his best friend nowhere to be found. The prosecutor said: "What of course PC Harper had not seen, but each of these defendants would have known, was that the loop of strapping now on the ground and being dragged behind the Seat was still attached to the hinge of the boot lid of the vehicle. Each email has a link to unsubscribe. A jury convicted Vale on December 6 and sentenced him to 82 years in prison. Read about our approach to external linking. "To his right he saw out of the corner of his eye something moving and tumbling in the road. When they came across PC Harper and his colleague, the youth on the bike unhitched the strap and tried to get into the Seat, jurors heard. RIP mate, love you. The whole incident takes around 30 seconds. Det Supt Kent said it remained unclear how PC Harper "came to be out of his vehicle and then caught under the suspect vehicle". 'So, we say all the defendants are guilty, not just of conspiracy to steal, which as you know they have all accepted, but also of murder. "This was a completely senseless killing of a young police officer in the line of duty.". We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. "He saw the whole body striking the kerb on the other side of the road.". To inquire about a licence to reproduce material, visit our Syndication site. They disabled their SEAT Toledos rear lights and taped over the number plate but were seen by Mr Wallis taking the Honda TRX500 quad bike and roping its handlebars to the back of the car. Long pleaded guilty to PC Harper's manslaughter not because it was "the right thing to do" but because of "overwhelming evidence", he explained. The officer followed the car into Ufton Lane and it sped away when he illuminated his blue lights. The re-trial over Pc Andrew Harper's death began on Tuesday after being postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic Henry Long, 18, and two teenage boys, both aged 17, have denied murder but admitted conspiracy to steal a quad bike. 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 prosecution opened the case against the three teenagers at the Old Bailey in London on Tuesday (June 23). He died of multiple injuries. The comments below have not been moderated, By PC Harpers body was completely naked apart from his socks when discovered by the officers horrified colleagues. He was pictured smirking and laughing along with his friends when they arrived at court. Proceedings will resume on Wednesday (June 23). Ten. Relatives of PC Harper have also paid tribute on social media to the "loveliest person that you will ever meet". 'At 5pm I can't remember exactly where I was but I got to 4 Houses caravan site about 8.30pm and I stayed there all evening until police came and arrested me. 'This evidence further demonstrates the defendants' determination to escape and not get caught at all costs.'. Prosecutor Jonathan Laidlaw QC said: "PC Harper was killed in truly shocking circumstances. 11.10pm: Long, Bowers and Cole return to Mr Wallis's house and, over 15 minutes, steal his quad bike. Long drove off with one of the 17-year-olds in the front seat of his Seat car and the other riding the quad bike behind, the court heard. Something went wrong, please try again later. An online petition to overturn the verdicts in the killing of PC Andrew Harper has more than 200,000 signatures. PC Harper, known as "Harps" to his colleagues, was part of Thames Valley's Roads Policing Unit, and had been due to work a 10am to 7pm shift that day. Cole, from Aldermaston, and Bowers and Long, both from Mortimer, Reading, have admitted conspiring to steal the quad bike. An officer is heard to say 'these people have already injured one of our officers' as he suggested they get there as quickly as possible. "As we stated yesterday, within an hour of the incident happening, we arrested 10 males aged between 13 and 30 on suspicion of murder. 'We watched DVD's. PC Andrew Harper, 28, was responding to a burglary report on Thursday in Sulhamstead, Berkshire, when he was dragged along the road by a vehicle. PC Harper was dragged for about a mile and after he became detached from the vehicle in a country lane near Sulhamstead, Berkshire, several officers tried to save him. 'We say that the defendants had gone to Privett House prepared to use serious violence amounting to really serious bodily harm, if the need arose, to effect their plan to steal the quad bike from premises which were occupied and to make good their escape. Mr Altman told the jury: 'You will recall that he accepts his guilt of manslaughter but on the basis that he did not know that PC Harper was attached to the car and being dragged along the road by him, which the prosecution do not accept. opened the case against the three teenagers at the Old Bailey in London on Tuesday (June 23). ', Mr Altman said: 'His solicitor tried to encourage him to be quiet as the charges were read to him.'. 2023 BBC. The officer was "barely alive" but died at the scene a short time later. Mr Laidlaw said the thieves were determined to take the vehicle "whatever the cost", having been disturbed earlier in the day. Jonathan Laidlaw QC, prosecuting, described how PC Harper was "lassoed around his ankles" and dragged at an average of more than 42mph for just over a mile. The Thames Valley police officer became caught in a strap and was dragged behind a speeding car for more than a mile as his uniform was stripped from his body, jurors in his murder trial were told, Don't miss a thing! 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. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Relatives described the day as a "dream wedding". They were determined to succeed, having been thwarted once already. PC Harper's parents and his widow Lissie Harper were among those attending the court on Tuesday. Prosecutor Brian Altman QC told the court: 'In his opinion, PC Harper's lower legs became entangled in a rope attached to the Seat car causing him to fall violently to the ground in an unprotected manner, sustaining a head injury which would likely have resulted in deep unconsciousness.'. By We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. Chief Constable John Campbell said Pc Harper was at the scene with a fellow officer and was out of his police car when the incident took place. Bespectacled Thomas King, 21, of Bramley, Hampshire, earlier admitted conspiring to steal the same quad bike belonging to Peter Wallace and will be sentenced on a date to be fixed. PC Kluger and other officers used a defibrillator to try to save PC Harper and he "said something like: 'Stay with me, buddy, the ambulance will be here soon and they'll sort you out'". The trial continues. PC Andrew Shaw, who responded to a report of a stolen quad bike with PC. An examination of the officer's Mitsubishi Outlander later showed no evidence it had made any contact to PC Harper's body. The court heard earlier today how PC Harper was killed when he was dragged along by a car and was thrown around 'like a rag doll'. He later plead guilty to manslaughter, although the charge was for murder. Accident compensation Downes, T. Antony, "French lessons on motor accident compensation", 173-190, in the volume honouring Dowrick, F. E. Sugarman, Stephen D., "Personal injury and social policy: institutional and ideological alternatives", 290-304, in the volume honouring Fleming, John G. (2) Chef, Sarah and Harry.". He was declared dead by paramedics at the scene. Within 10 minutes of the officer's death, a police helicopter spotted the defendants' car parked up at a council-run travellers' site at nearby Burghfield Common, its engine still hot and clearly visible on the helicopter's thermal image camera. Mr Altman said: 'For the fourth part of the reconstruction, a mannequin of a similar weight to PC Harper, wearing police uniform and equipment, was attached via a strap tied to the nearside boot hinge, and dragged along the route using the same Seat. Keep up with breaking news, traffic and travel updates and whats on from across the county plus unrivalled Reading FC coverage. "Pc Harper was a beautiful young soul. Asia Pacific; EMEA; Latin America; UK Solicitors; UK Bar; United States Mr Laidlaw said: "Going beyond the call of duty, as it were, would cost Andrew Harper his life.". Police woke me up. A man charged with the murder of PC Andrew Harper told police he wasn't there because he was watching Fast and Furious, a court has heard. He attended a suspected burglary with a colleague at 11.30pm on Thursday, August 15, 2019. Mr Altman said the vehicle came straight at him very quickly, forcing him to veer to the left as it passed, narrowly missing him. Read about our approach to external linking. Forensics officers could be seen combing the area as police widened the cordon around the scene earlier. Our grandson Andrew was killed last night while doing his police work. Dashcam footage from killed PC's car shown to jury, PC murder trial hears quad bike owner's 999 call, PC murder accused 'tried to escape at all costs', PC was 'dragged behind car for more than a mile', PC murder accused teens admit bike theft plot, 'No detailed discussions' over The Ivy Leaf re-development, meeting hears, Nearly one in five shops empty shops in town centre, figures reveal, Windsorians call for "broken" Windsor Town Forum to change, Battersea Old Windsor appeals for local foster homes for cats and dogs, Giggling Squid will open in the Lexicon shopping complex, Police step in to move on illegal encampment at Reading industrial estate, Zelensky says fatal crash was consequence of war, Iran man who beheaded wife jailed for eight years, German police deny Greta's detainment was staged. Three teenagers have been convicted of killing Pc Andrew Harper as they evaded arrest. Det Supt Ailsa Kent told a press conference: "A post-mortem was carried out on Andrew's body and the cause of death has been recorded as multiple injuries. He was responding to the reported theft of a quad bike from a home near the village of Sulhamstead in Berkshire. He attended a suspected burglary with a colleague at 11.30pm on Thursday, August 15, 2019. An officer has shared the moment he made the "gruesome discovery" of PC Andrew Harper who was lying gravely injured in a country lane. A police officer died in 'truly shocking circumstances' after being dragged behind a car by his ankles for more than a mile, the Old Bailey heard. Read about our approach to external linking. 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. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. He said: 'I don't give a f*ck about any of this. As always you can unsubscribe at any time. 'He saw the whole body striking the kerb on the other side of the road.'. She said the 10 boys and men had been arrested at council-run caravan and mobile home site, Four Houses Corner, about three miles from where PC Harper died. ", Another colleague, PC Katherine Darling, who had responded to a radio call for assistance, described seeing blood which was "bright red and running all the way down the centre of the road on tarmac.". Henry Long, 19, Jessie Cole, 18, and Albert Bower, 18, have been charged with the murder of PC Harper. He added that the officer "only married four weeks ago". Long, of Mortimer near Reading, Cole, of Aldermaston, and Bower, of Mortimer, all deny murder. 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 Andrew Harper, 28, was responding to a burglary report on Thursday in Sulhamstead, Berkshire, when he was dragged along the road by a vehicle. "In respect of our investigation, we are interviewing those in custody, carrying out house-to-house inquiries, obtaining and reviewing CCTV footage, undertaking extensive forensic examination and taking witness statements. Menu Home; Rankings. He says: "I've got four masked men outside my house and they've got weapons.". Police investigating the murder of Pc Andrew Harper, 28, say he died of multiple of injuries. "With his ankles caught in a strap that was trailing behind a car being driven at speed along a country lane, he was dragged for over a mile along the road surface, swung from side to side like a pendulum in an effort to dislodge him, losing items of his police uniform along the way, with the rest of his uniform being quite literally ripped and stripped from his body. 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 and striking the kerb, Mr Laidlaw said. PC Harper ran behind to intercept him, Mr Altman said: "Illuminated by the rear lights of the police car, as well as by the pulsating blue and white emergency lights, [the youth] could not failed to have seen Pc Harper, who was within feet of him and to have realised he was a police officer in full uniform.". PC Andrew Harper, a rapid response officer with the forces roads and traffic command. When Long was arrested after repeatedly lying to police in a series of interviews. Jurors were told that consultant forensic pathologist Dr Ashley Fegan-Earl believed PC Harper would have been rendered deeply unconscious as soon as he hit the ground. 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". Commercial Solicitor Ai Law Skelmersdale, England, United Kingdom 269 followers 270 connections Join to connect Ai Law The University of Law Activity Our dispute resolution lawyers have experience. We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. The number plates were taped over during the first sortie to avoid identification of the car and ultimately them. But PC Harper and his colleagues came across the gang driving towards them on narrow Admoor Lane. Meanwhile, Long heads towards Ufton Court but gets stuck behind a wedding coach and turns back, forcing PC Bushnell to take evasive action to avoid a head-on collision, the court is told. 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. , updated This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. The other officer was not physically injured but is being provided with emotional support, a Thames Valley spokesman said. A brave young police officer was killed "in the line of duty" in "truly shocking circumstances" as he attempted to stop three teenagers from stealing a quad bike, a trial has heard. Provide content in the killing of a young police officer in the car a..., Jack Whittenham, mistakenly thought he had seen an injured deer PC Harper 's and! Officers could be seen combing the area as police widened the cordon around scene... They arrived at court do n't give a f * ck about any of This multiple! 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