The families of PC Andrew Harper, a 28-year-old police officer who was killed in 2019, are outraged after two men who were passengers in the car when he died will be released early from prison.
The decision has sparked uproar, particularly among PC Harper's family, who feel that the release of Albert Bowers and Jessie Cole is a betrayal of justice. Bowers and Cole were found not guilty of PC Harper's murder but convicted of manslaughter in 2020, with each serving 13 years in prison.
Henry Long, the driver of the car, was not eligible for early release and will remain in prison. Long was sentenced to 16 years in prison for his role in PC Harper's death. The three men had been driving away from an attempted quad bike theft when PC Harper's ankles became entangled in a crane strap attached to the boot of the car.
The group then drove off at high speed, with PC Harper being dragged for over a mile before he was eventually killed. The prosecution had argued that the men would have been aware that PC Harper was being dragged to his death, but the jury found them not guilty of murder.
PC Harper's mother, Debbie, has spoken out about the decision, saying that it feels like they are letting her son down again. "It feels like we're letting Andrew down again," she said. "We've been through the justice system, we thought we'd done as best we could, and now we're standing up to fight again."
Justice Secretary Alex Norris has apologized to PC Harper's family and said that the decision was made to prevent the prison system from reaching capacity. "At the moment, we'd run out of prison places in October or November. We can't allow that to happen," he said.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham has also weighed in on the issue, saying that he wanted to keep different categories of prisoners locked up, including those convicted of serious crimes like murder and child sex offenses.
Despite the controversy surrounding the decision, the two men will now be released early from prison after a review of the case. The decision has sparked outrage among PC Harper's family and the wider community, and raises questions about the fairness of the justice system.
PC Harper's widow, Lissie, has spoken out about the impact of the decision on her family. "It feels really let down for my sake and my own," she said. The family is now calling for justice to be served and for those responsible for PC Harper's death to be held accountable.
As the debate continues, one thing is clear: the decision to release Bowers and Cole has sparked a national conversation about the justice system and its ability to deliver justice for victims and their families.
