Killed a month after his wedding - why PC Andrew Harper's death touched so many
Summary
PC Andrew Harper, a police officer, was killed in August 2019 shortly after his wedding while on duty, when he was accidentally dragged behind a car driven by teenagers involved in a burglary. Two of his killers, Albert Bowers and Jessie Cole, were convicted of manslaughter and are now eligible for early release under new government plans, sparking renewed public anger and grief.Key Facts
- PC Andrew Harper died on 15 August 2019, about four weeks after marrying Lissie Harper.
- He was killed while on duty during a burglary call when he got caught in a strap towing a stolen quad bike.
- The three teenagers involved were Henry Long, Albert Bowers, and Jessie Cole. Long pleaded guilty to manslaughter; Bowers and Cole were convicted of manslaughter.
- The jury did not convict them of murder because it was not clear they knew Harper was being dragged.
- The killers showed no remorse during the trial, sometimes laughing in court.
- Sentences were 16 years for Long and 13 years each for Bowers and Cole.
- Harper’s family campaigned for tougher laws for crimes against emergency workers, leading to the introduction of Harper’s Law, which mandates life sentences for killing emergency workers during a crime.
- Two of the killers are facing early release soon due to government efforts to reduce prison overcrowding, causing public and family distress.
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