Killer’s fresh blow to PC Harper widow

The leader of the gang that killed Andrew harper enraged the police hero’s family yesterday by submitting a last- minute legal challenge.

henry long applied for permission to appeal against his 16-year prison sentence – two days before the deadline for doing so.

The move came after the Mail revealed that lawyers for long and his accomplices pocketed more than £465,000 in legal aid for their trial.

Mr harper’s widow, lissie, said: ‘This update comes as no surprise to me following news that two of them are also seeking leave to appeal against their conviction. none of Andrew’s killers have shown any remorse.

‘So this is just carrying on the way that they are and have been throughout the past year.’

The widow is due to meet home Secretary Priti Patel next month to discuss her campaign to toughen sentencing laws.

‘harper’s law’ would introduce compulsory whole life tariffs for killing an emergency services worker – all such offenders would die behind bars.

Mrs harper, 29, said of long’s legal move: ‘It’s upsetting – but just helps to drive my determination with my campaign calling for harper’s law.’

The couple had wed just a month before Mr harper was dragged for more than a mile behind the killers’ car when responding to an emergency call in rural Berkshire last August. Caught in a tow rope,

Henry Long: Legal challenge the 28-year-old constable died of catastrophic injuries.

The officer’s mother, debbie Adlam, said: ‘My family and I totally respect anyone’s right to appeal against their sentence. we live in a fair society. howslaughter

Yesterday’s Daily Mail ever, this news is simply another kick in the stomach that leaves us all feeling awful.

‘we will recover from this, as we have to do, but my thoughts today are absolutely with my heroic son who gave his life trying to protect others and those responsible for his loss will not live rent free in my head.’

long, 19, was acquitted of murder but admitted the manof the Thames Valley Police officer.

his accomplices, Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers, both 18, have already lodged applications seeking permission to challenge their manslaughter convictions and 13-year prison sentences.

The jail terms given to all three have been referred to the Court of Appeal by the Attorney General for judges to decide whether they were too lenient.

The killers will have to serve at least two thirds of their sentences in jail.

Yesterday was the final day on which long’s legal team could submit the application for permission to appeal.

It is understood that papers were submitted on wednesday and confirmed by a judicial spokesman yesterday.