Three teenagers convicted of killing Pc Andrew Harper during getaway attempt

Imogen Braddick24 July 2020
WEST END FINAL

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Three teenagers have been convicted of killing a police officer who was dragged more than a mile along country lanes.

Over five weeks, jurors at the Old Bailey heard evidence of how Pc Harper, 28, died in Berkshire on the night of August 15 last year.

The Thames Valley Police officer had been responding to a report of a quad bike theft when his ankles became tangled in a tow rope attached to a getaway car.

Pc Harper was dragged for more than a mile and suffered horrific injuries, the Old Bailey heard.

Driver Henry Long, 19, who dragged Pc Harper to his death, has been found not guilty at the Old Bailey of murder.

His passengers Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers, both 18, were cleared of murder but found guilty of manslaughter.

PC Andrew Harper was killed in August last year

Long, of College Piece, Mortimer Common, previously admitted manslaughter and all three defendants pleaded guilty to conspiring to steal the bike.

The defendants heard the jury’s verdicts over video-link due to problems with a prison van preventing them from being in court.

The trio hugged and held each other’s hands when they were cleared of murder, but Bowers, of Windmill Corner, Mortimer Common, cried out when he learned he had been convicted of manslaughter.

After the news sunk in, Long and Cole, of Paices Hill, Reading, became very distressed, with Long apparently in tears having to be comforted by his co-defendants.

But Bowers seemed elated and could be seen smiling and patting the other two in an attempt to cheer them up.

The scene in Berkshire last August
PA

Jaswant Kaur Narwal, chief crown prosecutor for Thames and Chiltern, said: "This is a truly heartbreaking case in which a young police officer with everything to look forward to tragically lost his life in the line of duty.

"He was killed trying to stop suspects who were prepared to go to any lengths to get away with their crime."

She added: "Our case quite simply was that the thieves were intent on causing serious harm to anyone who got in their way that August night and tragically this was what happened to Pc Harper.

"It has been an emotional trial, and evidentially challenging, but I am pleased the jury has found all three culpable for Pc Harper’s death."

Prosecution described the case as the "senseless killing of a brave officer" 
PA

Senior investigating officer, Detective Superintendent Stuart Blaik of the Thames Valley Police Major Crime Unit, said: "No matter what the verdicts, there would have been no sense of victory.

“It was always going to be an immense challenge to bring this case to court, and in doing so was an achievement in itself.

“This has been a hugely complicated investigation in which we seized 2,753 exhibits, took 1,250 statements and visited more than 1,000 homes during house to house enquiries."

He added: "It was extremely challenging to determine our suspects but once we had, we then had to establish who was driving and who the passengers were. It is thanks to this work that we were able to prove beyond a doubt that Long, Bowers and Cole were all in the Seat Toledo that night.

"The strength of the evidence against them meant that they had to admit their involvement in this offence before the trial even started."

Court sketch of Henry Long, 18, sitting next to a dock officer at the Old Bailey
PA

Mr Blaik thanked the hundreds of officers and members of staff across the country who "worked diligently to discover the truth".

"I would like to draw particular attention to the incredible bravery shown by Pc Harper’s family throughout this entire process," he added.

"This must have been unimaginably distressing for his family at times, but they have shown strength, dignity and resilience throughout. I would like to thank them for this, and for the extraordinary support they have shown to our investigation."

Mr Blaik described Pc Harper as "a brave, young, dedicated police officer who was killed in the act of doing his job and trying to protect the public".

“Thames Valley Police, the wider policing family, and the country as a whole is proud of Pc Harper for his dedicated service to protect the public, which ultimately cost him his life.

"We are all honoured to have called him our colleague. He will always be remembered."

Thousands of motorcyclists took part in a 'ride of respect' for Pc Harper in Oxfordshire last year
PA

It can now be reported that the case was dogged by alleged attempts to “frustrate" the investigation and fears over jury nobbling.

Detectives quickly tracked down the car which dragged Pc Harper to his death to the Four Houses Corner travellers’ site.

But the investigation was hampered by family and friends of the occupants, who were all said to have close ties to the site.

Thames Valley Police Detective Superintendent Stuart Blaik said: "A decision was taken very early on to arrest all the males on the site that night.

"While we were frustrated by family and friends, we have been able to work through that and establish exactly what happened and who was involved."

The trial first got under way in March, but Mr Justice Edis soon brought the trial to a halt over an alleged potential plot to intimidate jurors.

Mr Justice Edis ordered extra security measures to protect the jury.

He said police had received information "that an attempt is being considered by associates of the defendants to intimidate the jury".

On the day the UK went into lockdown, the original jury was discharged.

Lissie Harper, the widow of PC Andrew Harper
PA

When the case returned for retrial in June, social distancing in court was introduced to combat the risk of Covid-19 and security was further stepped up.

Jurors were referred to by number rather than their name to be sworn in and uniformed police were out in force during a jury visit to rural Berkshire.

With the end of the retrial in sight, fears for its integrity surfaced on July 20.

An overly friendly juror was seen by a prison officer to mouth “Bye boys” to the defendants in the dock.

Pallbearers carry the coffin of Pc Harper
POOL/AFP via Getty Images

On being alerted to the incident, Mr Justice Edis said: "She must have been compelled by some strong motive to have behaved as she did in this court under the observation of so many.

"It was both overt and covert at the time, which is remarkable behaviour."

The female juror was discharged just a day before the remaining 11 men and women began deliberating on their verdicts.

The jury was then given a majority direction on Thursday.

The jurors were sent out out to deliberate their verdicts at 3pm on Tuesday and at 2pm on Thursday, Mr Justice Edis told them he would now accept verdicts on which at least 10 of them were agreed.

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