Who was PC Andrew Harper and how did the police officer die?
NEWLYWED PC Andrew Harper, was killed while on duty trying to stop three teens stealing a quad bike.
His wife, Lissie Harper, has campaigned for a new law protecting emergency service workers ever since his death in 2019.
Who was PC Andrew Harper?
PC Andrew Harper was killed while attending a reported burglary in a rural area of Berkshire.
He was a rapid response officer with the force’s roads and traffic command.
His wife described him as "selfless, beautiful, and heroic".
Lissie Harper, 30, said: "We will never understand how such a beautiful, loving , decent human being could be dealt this fate.
"I now have my own life sentence to bear and believe me when I say it will be a much more painful, soul destroying and treacherous journey than anyone facing a meagre number of years in prison will experience."
The 28-year-old officer died after he became tangled in a tow rope behind the getaway car.
He was dragged along a road by a vehicle going speeds of more than 40mph in Sulhamstead, Berkshire, on August 15, 2019.
He was the first police officer to die on duty since Westminster PC Keith Palmer in March 2017.
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What happened to PC Harper?
PC Harper attended a suspected burglary with a colleague in a marked car at 11.30pm on Thursday, August 15, 2019.
He had just left his vehicle when he was struck by a car at a country crossroads, close to Sulhamstead and the A4 Bath Road between Reading and Newbury.
He fell beneath the vehicle and was dragged a “considerable” distance, caught in a tow rope.
On August 17, police said that Harper died of "multiple injuries" but it is unclear at which stage PC Harper died.
Det Supt Ailsa Kent said: "A post-mortem was carried out on Andrew's body and the cause of death has been recorded as multiple injuries.
"(That) is consistent with our current belief that Andrew was caught between a vehicle and the road and then dragged for a distance."
Ten murder suspects, aged 13-30, were arrested from a nearby local authority-run caravan and mobile home site, Four Houses Corner.
Police were given a 36 hour extension to their custody to carry out interviews.
When did PC Andrew Harper get married?
Andrew and Lissie were married just four weeks earlier at Ardington House in Oxfordshire.
The officer sent the romantic card to Lissie on the morning of their big day to mark their commitment to each other.
His touching message said: "Life is slippery. Here, take my hand."
Lissie, now 30, was pictured beaming as she read the card containing the quote from American author J Jackson Brown Jnr moments before walking down the aisle.
Andrew died a week before he was due to go on holiday.
What has wife Lissie Beckett said?
Lissie has campaigned for a law change that would mean anyone convicted of unlawfully killing any emergency service worker would be given a life sentence.
The law is called Harper's Law and has been backed by the government.
In November, 2021 she said: “Emergency services workers require extra protection.
"I know all too well how they are put at risk and into the depths of danger on a regular basis on behalf of society.
"That protection is what Harper’s Law will provide and I am delighted that it will soon become a reality.”
On what would have been his 29th birthday in April 2020, his grieving wife posted to Facebook: “Oh my lovely boy, I can’t believe I’m spending this day without you.
“I walked at our favourite spot, I sat in the sun and I remembered all of your special birthdays we did spend together.
“I know you were there with me and will always be in my heart forever more. My love is yours always.”
PC Harper's heartbroken wife said she did not know how she would "survive" without him.
She added: "You had the best sense of humour and never took life too seriously.
"You treasured every moment and always had a smile on your face."
Grieving Lissie praised her husband who "wanted to keep everyone safe" and "went the extra mile";.
She said: "The lights have dimmed on all of our lives now that you are no longer here, but it's no surprise that even when you're gone, you're still keeping us all going, knowing that you would tell us to carry on and stay strong.
"I can't begin to imagine a life without your silly jokes, size 14 feet, large appetite, big hugs, Sunday roasts, and never faltering positive attitude.
"You kept me going if I was down and took care of us all until the last."
Who was arrested in connection with PC Andrew Harper's murder?
On September 17, 2019, four people were arrested on suspicion of murdering PC Harper.
Henry Long, 19, and 18-year-olds Albert Bowers and Jessie Cole appeared in court in July 2020.
A fourth suspect, a 21-year-old man, was arrested for the first time after cops swooped on a traveller camp on the outskirts of Basingstoke, Hants.
And then 20-year-old Jed Foster was charged with the PC's murder, appearing in court in August 2019. All charges were dropped.
Long, Bowers and Cole were found not guilty of murdering the officer after the jury had deliberated for almost two days.
Bowers and Cole were instead convicted of the lesser charge of manslaughter - which Long had previously admitted.
Long pleaded guilty to manslaughter, he told lawyers he felt "disgraceful".
All three had also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to steal the quad bike.
They were seen smirking and laughing during the trial, Bowers even fell asleep while footage of PC Harper's death was shown.
Prosecutor Jonathan Laidlaw QC told an earlier hearing: "PC Harper was killed in truly shocking circumstances.
"During the course of that high-speed journey, and until at last he became disentangled, his police uniform was quite literally ripped and stripped from his body.
"...PC Harper was left as you can imagine with the most appalling of injuries, from which he died there on the road.
"It was a senseless killing of a young police officer in the line of duty, a young man who was doing no more than his job."