pc andrew harper autopsy report
He then learned that another officer had reported a body in the road near the A4. On 15 August 2019, 28-year-old English police constable Andrew Harper was killed near Sulhamstead, Berkshire, England in the line of duty.Harper and a fellow officer were responding to a report of a burglary, after which Harper was dragged behind a car for a mile (1.6 km), causing his death.In July 2020, three teenage males were found guilty of manslaughter and received sentences of 16 and 13 . Mr Wallis told the Thames Valley Police operator: Ive got four masked men outside my house and theyve got weapons. 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. [45] In June 2020, Thames Valley Police have named the newest horse of their mounted section "Harper" as a tribute. [14], On 13 March, the court heard that all parties agreed that the police constable first to attend to Harper on the A4 did not strike him with his vehicle, contrary to early reports of the incident. According to Long, the passengers were shouting to "go this way, go that way, slow down." He told them to shut up and put music on . '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. [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. [20] On 19 August, the 20-year-old was charged with murder. The widow was speaking before her husband's teenage killers were sentenced following their manslaughter conviction last week. Read about our approach to external linking. BerkshireLive email updates: We . Follows the tireless campaigning of PC Andrew Harper's family Named after PC Andrew Harper, who was killed in the line of duty in 2019, the law will introduce mandatory life sentences. Subscribe to our newsletter to get the day's top stories sent directly to you. But theyre not taking my damn bike. You obviously did your best to attend to Pc Harper. They were acquitted on the charge of murder. "In answer to the question: how has Andrew's death impacted me? Both the Home Secretary Priti Patel and the Justice Secretary Dominic Raab credited Lissie Harper's campaign with convincing them to pass the law. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. Long had pleaded guilty to, and Bowers and Cole were found guilty of, manslaughter. "My life often feels bleak, hopeless, irreparable. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. [46], In August 2020, Harper's widow launched a campaign for a new law which would require life imprisonment for criminals whose actions result in the death of any police officer, prison officer, firefighter, nurse, doctor, or paramedic. US porn star declared unfit for sex crimes trial, Ukrainian ministers killed in helicopter crash, Jeremy Renner TV show poster edited after accident, Celebrities who say their children will get no inheritance, Baby among six killed in possible cartel hit in US, Polar bear kills woman and boy in Alaska village. Something went wrong, please try again later. PC Shaw, giving evidence, described the moment that his crew-mate appeared to fall over and disappeared from view, saying it was like a water-skier. The Telegraph 2.99M subscribers Three teenagers have been convicted of killing Pc Andrew Harper as they evaded arrest. [44], On 27 October 2019, 5,000 motorcyclists took part in a "ride of respect" between RAF Benson and Abingdon Airfield. "I will spend every day for the rest of my life with a hole that will never be filled. 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. Prosecutor Jonathan Laidlaw QC said: "What then follows, you leave the car and had the gruesome discovery that body is your colleague. Editors' Code of Practice. However, as PC Harper attempted to apprehend one of the suspects, his ankle became caught on a tow rope attached to their car, and he was dragged to his death. "He was clearly a man who, in his short time, touched many lives," Mr Barber added. [8] On 28 January 2020, Harper was given a posthumous award by the Police Federation of England and Wales. Security around the first trial into PC Harper's death was stepped up after police uncovered a plot by "associates of the defendants to intimidate the jury". 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. I just knew he was in trouble.". What happened in the Ukraine helicopter crash? 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". In an update given near the scene, Thames Valley Police spokesman Jack Abell said an emergency call was made reporting a burglary at a residential property at 11.18pm on Thursday. Our love goes to his lovely wife, mum and dad, brother and all of his family and friends. Since his death, Lissie has launched the Harper's Law campaign in memory of her husband - a new law that would see those who kill emergency workers jailed for life. [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. 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. Football teams held silences before kick-off and the officer's hometown of Wallingford in Oxfordshire decorated shop windows with ribbons representing the "thin blue line". Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. The pair were childhood sweethearts and had been in a relationship for 13 years. A coroner carried out a Post Mortem report to determine the cause of death, which has been recorded as "multiple injuries". Relatives of PC Harper have also paid tribute on social media to the "loveliest person that you will ever meet". [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. Long has admitted manslaughter but denies intending to harm the 28-year-old officer. Detective Superintendent Ailsa Kent, of Thames Valley Major Crime Unit, said the 28-year-old died of multiple injuries while responding to a burglary. Who was Ukrainian minister Denys Monastyrsky? All three were standing trial for murder, but the jury found them guilty. This website and associated newspapers adhere to the Independent Press Standards Organisation's Ms Kent also urged the public not to speculate on the circumstances of the incident. You can be satisfied I am now a shadow of the person I once was. [5][13] Shaw arrived at the location to find another officer tending to Harper,[19] who was pronounced dead by paramedics at 23:45. 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 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. Giving evidence, PC Shaw described the moment his colleague appeared to fall over and disappear from view. Long, from Mortimer, Reading, pleaded guilty to manslaughter but denied murder and said he did not know PC Harper was attached to the vehicle. [22] A second 17-year-old male was also later arrested. Fellow officers have been laying flowers at the scene of the death throughout the morning. Pc Harper was pulled. Andrew James Harper (22 March 1991 15 August 2019)[1][2] grew up in Wallingford. PC Shaw told jurors: "I thought maybe he slipped on something. Mrs Harper said: "Should I speak again of how we were robbed of our future or the plans stolen from us? Our love goes to his lovely wife, Mum and Dad, brother and all of his family and friends. 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. Along with colleague. "[48] The law was added to the statute book on 28 April 2022[49] and is now law. 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. I cant begin to tell you how we feel. They were acquitted on the charge of murder. Those ads you do see are predominantly from local businesses promoting local services. [41] PC Harper's mother, Debbie Adlam, is campaigning for Andrew's Law. On August 15 last year, PC Harper attended reports of a quad bike theft in Stanford Dingley, Berkshire, at about 11.17pm. , updated 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. [48] Harper's Law did not affect the sentences of the three men already imprisoned for killing Andrew Harper.[50]. and Long has admitted manslaughter but denies intending to harm the officer. Ten males aged between 13 and 30 have been arrested on suspicion of murder. PC Shaw told jurors he set off in the car to find his colleague and came across his stab vest further down the lane. Her campaign proposes that those convicted of manslaughter over the death of a blue-light worker while committing a crime should . 'With Jessie Cole now in the car, Henry Long drove off at speed, flooring the accelerator to make good their escape. Bowers was in the car as a passenger when PC Harper was killed. Pc Shaw turned his vehicle around, expecting to find PC Harper waiting for him. I quickly realised it was a person. and Peter Wallis dialled 999 to say he could see "four masked men" brandishing weapons. 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. 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. Harry Howard The Seat driver, Henry Long, 19, and passengers Albert Bowers and Jessie Cole, both 18, from near Reading, are charged with his murder. Recommended PC Andrew Harper's killer 'should be. 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. The court heard homeowner Peter Wallis had reported masked thieves making off with the valuable Honda quad bike from his house in Bradfield Southend, near Reading, at 11.17pm. It looked like a rag doll.. 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. 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. Finally, our thoughts remain with Andrews friends, family and colleagues.. PC Andrew Shaw can be seen steering the vehicle in reverse while flashing blue lights before his colleague comes into view in the BMW's rear window. HP10 9TY. [13] In doing so, he was caught in a strap[a] that had been used to tow the quad bike. What happened in the Ukraine helicopter crash? But theyre not taking my damn bike., After a pause, he adds: F*** me theyve already taken it.. 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. The vehicle, surrounded by police tape and a floodlight, was partially visible through a gap in the fence. Instead, he came across what turned out to be PC Harper's stab vest in the road, which had been torn from him. PC Andrew Harper was "doing no more than his job" when he was dragged for more than a mile to his death after his feet got caught in a strap trailing behind a suspect's getaway car. 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