Mums bond over battle for justice
UNITED IN GRIEF FOR THEIR KILLED SONS
THE heartbroken mothers of PC Andrew Harper and Harry Dunn have become friends and speak daily.
Andrew’s mum Debbie Adlam and Harry’s Charlotte Charles are both fighting for justice for their sons killed just 12 days apart.
On Friday three young men who dragged Andrew, 28, to his death were jailed for a total of 42 years.
Harry, 19, died on August 27 when his motorbike collided with a car driven by Anne Sacoolas, wife of a US intelligence officer stationed at RAF Croughton, Northants. Sacoolas left the UK claiming diplomatic immunity and is yet to face a court.
The bond between the woman, who live near each other, was forged through Facebook then Debbie attended a protest for Harry. Dunn family spokesman Radd Sieger said: “They’ve both found support from each other, which is a great thing.
“You do need to get justice before you can get any closure, so this is very important to them.
“I think people like Debbie and Charlotte have a lot to teach us about how to cope with adversity. They’ve carried themselves with such strength and dignity I think both are incredible.”
Andrew was killed just four weeks after his wedding, dragged for a mile by a getaway car after getting ensnared in a tow rope.
They carry themselves with so much strength and dignity
Murder
Driver Henry Long, 19, Albert Bowers, 18, and Jessie Cole, 18, were convicted of manslaughter but cleared of murder. Yesterday Mrs Adlam said she struggled with the verdict and hoped the Attorney General could do more. She said: “We feel and thousands have told us they also feel we do not have the justice Andrew deserves.
“I am reeling with how much was reduced for age reasons. If you can marry at 16, why at 19 do you not serve what you would serve at 21. It is incomprehensible to me. I think this needs looking at.”
Mr Sieger is now advising Mrs Adlam about fighting to change the law, as Harry’s family did by successfully lobbying the Government so no one else could use diplomatic immunity to escape justice.
He said: “Debbie feels if you do something bad to the police, and indeed all first responders, the court should be free then to impose a whole life tariff.
“The person who took Harry’s life got up and walked away and since when was that OK? Debbie believes her son was murdered and the conduct of these guys in court is seemingly if they had the chance to do it all again they would.
“We’ve changed the law so what happened with Harry will never happen again. Debbie can do the same and campaign for the safety of our first responders.”