Outrage at verdict that ‘puts police at risk’
Calls for retrial of killers of Pc Andrew Harper after jury finds them guilty only of manslaughter
A JURY’S decision to clear three teenagers who killed Pc Andrew Harper of murder puts the safety of other police officers at risk, policing leaders and MPs said last night.
John Apter, the chairman of the Police Federation, described the verdict as “two fingers up at the criminal justice system”, while a senior MP said other criminals might be emboldened to attack officers without fear of severe punishment.
The Attorney General is facing calls to review the verdict over an alleged potential plot to intimidate jurors.
During the trial, an unidentified person in the public gallery was seen pointing at jurors, while one female juror in the case was dismissed after waving at the killers and saying “bye, boys” as she left the courtroom.
Henry Long, Albert Bowers and Jessie Cole smiled and hugged each other on Friday as they were cleared at the Old Bailey of murdering Pc Harper by dragging him behind their car, but were convicted of the lesser offence of manslaughter. They will be sentenced on Friday but although still facing life are likely to serve far less prison time than if convicted of murder.
The decision sparked fury from MPs and policing chiefs including Mr Apter, who represents more than 120,000 officers in England and Wales.
“What we see far too often is offenders who assault police officers or any emergency worker, who are then let off with nothing more than a slap on the wrist,” he said yesterday.
“They’re literally putting two fingers up to the criminal justice system. These are violent individuals.”
Priti Patel, the Home Secretary, called for tougher sentences for those who attack emergency workers in the wake of Pc Harper’s killing.
But Mr Apter said the increase would be “worthless” unless it was accompanied by a “complete review and overhaul of the sentencing guidelines”.
He said: “At the moment it’s almost the exception that people go to prison.” Ken Marsh, chairman of the Metropolitan Police Federation, added: “It’s completely wrong and shouldn’t be allowed. Cops need to be protected.”
Pc Harper, 28, had caught the gang stealing a quad bike. He became entangled in the tow rope attached to Long’s car and was dragged to his death for more than a mile down country lanes in Berkshire.
The killers were traced to the Four Houses Corner Travellers’ site in Berkshire.
Mike Penning MP, a former policing minister, said he was referring the trial to the Attorney General over fears of jury tampering.
“I want her to look through the documents and examine the basis for a retrial,” Mr Penning said yesterday. “Something seriously wrong has gone on here. I believe a verdict like this sends out the wrong message, and may put police officers at risk in the future.”
Andrew Ledbury, a former employer of Pc Andrew Harper before he joined the police and a friend of the family, said he thought his death was murder. Mr Ledbury told BBC Radio 4’s
programme: “They knew exactly what they were doing.”
Asked whether he wanted to see a retrial, he said: “Certainly I think this was murder and this will not in any way take away the pain of what has happened – it is about justice for those who committed the crime.”