Wife pays tribute to her ‘superman’ as man is charged with his murder
THE wife of the newly-wed police officer who died as he attended reports of a burglary has described him as “the kindest, loveliest, most selfless” person in a heartbreaking tribute.
Pc Andrew Harper’s wife Lissie, 28, last night released an open letter to him in which she wrote: “My darling boy, I do not know how I will be able to survive without you.”
The couple were due to honeymoon next week, four weeks after they married. It came as a man was charged with the police officer’s murder.
Pc Harper’s widow wrote that her late husband was her “pillar of strength”, adding: “I feel so lucky that it was me you chose to share your amazing life with. Our superman, our bodyguard, our light in the dark. My god we will miss you,” Mrs Harper wrote.
The Crown Prosecution Service said last night that 20-year-old Jed Foster from Reading had been charged with Pc Harper’s murder and theft of a quad bike. He will appear at Reading Magistrates Court tomorrow.
Pc Harper was responding to reports of a burglary last Thursday night when he was hit and dragged under a vehicle in Sulhamstead, West Berkshire. He died of multiple injuries.
Thames Valley Police were yesterday granted permission to further detain the nine other males in relation to the officer’s death. The men were released on bail last night.
Jaswant Narwal, chief crown prosecutor, said: “We will offer to meet with Pc Harper’s family to explain the basis of the decision we have made following a lengthy review of the evidence available.”
The murder charges were revealed just hours after colleagues paid an emotional tribute to the officer at the scene where he was killed.
Officers consoled each other at the kerbside, with some weeping.
Dozens of floral tributes and messages from well-wishers have been placed at the junction where Pc Harper died.
One message read: “Harps, I am truly gutted. A great cop, a great man, a great friend. There will always be a part of my heart missing now.”
Pc Gareth Phillips, who suffered “life-changing injuries” when he was run over by a suspected car thief in Birmingham, sent his condolences to the family of Pc Harper yesterday.
Pc Phillips, 42, who has undergone surgery, could be in hospital for several months with a shattered pelvis.
A 29-year-old man has been charged with his attempted murder.
Meanwhile, a police chief has urged the public to “lend a hand” to officers in confrontational situations.
Shaun Sawyer, chief constable of Devon and Cornwall Police, said the public should intervene rather than videoing officers when “they’re getting a kicking”.
His comments follow a number of cases in which crowds used phones to video officers under attack.
He told BBC Devon people should not film incidents but instead “consider using the phone to call someone”.
‘My darling boy, I do not know how I will be able to survive without you’