Jurors selected for PC Harper murder retrial at Old Bailey

PC Andrew Harper, 28, was dragged along a road after trying to stop the defendants making off with a quad bike on August 15 last year.

The driver, Henry Long, 19, has admitted manslaughter but denies murdering the Thames Valley Police officer.

Long faces a retrial, along with 18-year-olds Albert Bowers and Jessie Cole, who were passengers in the vehicle.

Their original trial, which started in February, was abandoned due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Yesterday, a new jury panel was selected at the Old Bailey – London's central criminal court – for a retrial, under strict social distancing conditions.

Mr Justice Edis told jurors the case would be opened by the prosecution today.

Read more: jurors told it is a case of 'utmost importance'

Next Wednesday, the jury will visit the site of the incident in Berkshire, the senior judge said.

He told jurors: "This case concerns the death of PC Andrew Harper, a brave young police officer, in the course of his duty.

"There is no doubt that he died because he tried to help in the pursuit of these defendants who were in the course of trying to escape with a quad bike which had been stolen and towed behind the car.

"Henry Long was the driver of the car and Albert Bowers and Jessie Cole were also in the car.

"Long has pleaded guilty to manslaughter and all three defendants have pleaded guilty to conspiracy to steal a quad bike.

"Henry Long accepts that he drove in a way that was dangerous and caused death but he denies he intended to cause any harm to PC Harper."

The judge told jurors they may feel 'admiration' for PC Harper's bravery; however, they must try the case in a 'fair-minded and clear-sighted' way.

Addressing any concerns about the Covid-19 pandemic, the judge said: "Serving as a juror is a public duty and serving on a jury in difficult times is particularly important.

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"The case we are about to start is of the utmost importance in which the prosecution alleges that three young men murdered a serving police officer."

Jurors will sit in court two metres apart, with masks, hand sanitiser and gloves available.

Mr Justice Edis said the courtroom would be kept thoroughly clean.

The jurors will also be provided with a second court for their deliberations.

At the time of PC Harper's death, the defendants were living near a travellers' caravan site in Berkshire.

The judge asked jurors to say, before they were sworn in, if they knew anyone connected with the area and if they have a close relative who is a police officer.

The trial is expected to last for up to five weeks, with some witnesses giving evidence by live link.

Cole, from Aldermaston, and Bower and Long, both from Mortimer, Reading, deny murder.

A fourth man, Thomas King, 21, has admitted to conspiracy to steal a quad bike. He is not accused of murdering the police officer and will be sentenced with the other three at the end of the trial.