We will never come to terms with this for the rest of our lives: Lissie Harper’s statement

Standing here before all of you, I honestly thought I would be addressing you following a very different verdict. I had planned to talk of the beautiful future Andrew and I had before us. I expected my words to be so very different and in all honesty I have for the second time in the space of one year been utterly shocked and appalled.

The decisions made in these courts by strangers will never change the outcome that had already come to us. For many, many, agonising months we have hoped for justice in some way for Andrew. We have put our faith in the justice system and all who work within.

We have waited with bated breath and heavy hearts as the dedicated prosecution barristers, investigation team, Thames Valley Police Officers who we must thank sincerely for all that they have done as they stood in our corner and fought to ensure that these men were made to repent for their barbaric crimes.

No verdict or sentence will ever bring my incredible, selfless, and heroic husband back. The results from this trial I had hoped would bring justice but in reality make no difference to the heart-wrenching pain I will continue to feel for the rest of my life. Andrew was taken from us on that horrendous night last year. His life was stolen and the lives of his family and friends altered forever. This crime whatever the outcome deliberated over in court was brutal and senseless.

The way in which Andrew was robbed of his life we all know to be barbaric and inexplicable and I am immensely disappointed with the verdicts today. Andrew served in Thames Valley Police with honour. He went out night after night risking his life for the safety and well-being of the innocent – as all police officers do with passion. Ultimately, he laid down his life for us all and it pains me more than I can ever explain that this has not been appreciated by the very people who should have seen his heroic and selfless duty, as so many other members of the public, total strangers, clearly do. Myself and Andrew’s family will never come to terms with this for the rest of our lives. We will never understand how such a beautiful, loving, decent human being deserved this fate.

I have a whole life sentence to bear and believe me when I say it will be a much more soul-destroying and treacherous journey than anyone facing a meagre number of years in prison will experience.

Myself and our family will spend the rest of our days missing him, loving him and being utterly proud of the incredible man that he was.

We will never forget the kindness that we as a family have received from all who have supported us over the last year – friends, family, total strangers, and the almighty unity of the thin blue line. From the depths of our hearts thank you.

‘We will never understand how such a beautiful, loving, decent human being deserved this fate’