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Police officer killed in hit-and-run died from internal injuries Police officer killed in hit-and-run died from internal injuries
(about 1 hour later)
A police officer struck by a speeding stolen pick-up truck he tried to stop died from internal injuries, a postmortem examination has found.A police officer struck by a speeding stolen pick-up truck he tried to stop died from internal injuries, a postmortem examination has found.
PC David Phillips, 34, was hit by the Mitsubishi Challenger L200 as it was being chased by police. The vehicle mounted a central reservation, where he and a young colleague tried to puncture its wheels with a “stinger” device. PC David Phillips, 34, was hit by the Mitsubishi L200 Challenger as it was being chased by police. The vehicle mounted a central reservation, where he and a young colleague tried to puncture its wheels with a “stinger” device.
His colleague – an officer with two years’ experience – was able to jump clear and was not injured, but at an emotional press conference, Sir Jon Murphy, chief constable of Merseyside police, said Phillips “didn’t stand a chance”.His colleague – an officer with two years’ experience – was able to jump clear and was not injured, but at an emotional press conference, Sir Jon Murphy, chief constable of Merseyside police, said Phillips “didn’t stand a chance”.
A Home Office postmortem examination found Phillips died from internal injuries suffered from the impact with the vehicle. As part of the murder investigation, Merseyside police have released a picture of the truck, which was stolen during a burglary in Woodchurch Road, Birkenhead, at about 1am on Monday. It was found abandoned in Corbyn Street, Wallasey, at 2.55am. A Home Office postmortem found Phillips died from internal injuries caused by the impact with the vehicle. As part of the murder investigation, Merseyside police have released a picture of the truck, which was stolen during a burglary in Woodchurch Road, Birkenhead, at about 1am on Monday. It was found abandoned in Corbyn Street, Wallasey, at 2.55am.
PC Phillips murder: did you see this truck last night btwn 1.12am when stolen & 2.55am when found? Call 0800 230 0600 pic.twitter.com/Q47IGrE7B7PC Phillips murder: did you see this truck last night btwn 1.12am when stolen & 2.55am when found? Call 0800 230 0600 pic.twitter.com/Q47IGrE7B7
David Cameron, the prime minister, said his thoughts were with the officer’s family and friends.David Cameron, the prime minister, said his thoughts were with the officer’s family and friends.
He told ITV: “It is a reminder that every day, people in our police force, they get up, they put on their uniform and they take extraordinary risks on our behalf. There’s no such thing as a safe day if you are a police officer. We must get to the bottom of how this happened and get the perpetrator and ensure justice is done.” He told ITV: “It is a reminder that, every day, people in our police force, they get up, they put on their uniform and they take extraordinary risks on our behalf. There’s no such thing as a safe day if you are a police officer. We must get to the bottom of how this happened and get the perpetrator and ensure justice is done.”
Murphy said the force had no idea who was responsible and that all the evidence they had was the abandoned car and “nothing else”. But he warned his detectives were on the case, and added: “We will find you.” Murphy said the force had no idea who was responsible and that all the evidence they had was the abandoned car. But he said his detectives were on the case and added: “We will find you.”
He said Phillips was a popular officer, held in high regard by his colleagues.He said Phillips was a popular officer, held in high regard by his colleagues.
“David’s death serves as a reminder of the risks that the men and women of this force, and the other forces in the UK, face in serving the public,” he added. “They come to work, day in, day out, knowing the risks they all face. But their wives, their husbands, their loved ones and their families expect them to come home at the end of their watch. Sadly, David did not and his daughters will have to grow up without their father.”“David’s death serves as a reminder of the risks that the men and women of this force, and the other forces in the UK, face in serving the public,” he added. “They come to work, day in, day out, knowing the risks they all face. But their wives, their husbands, their loved ones and their families expect them to come home at the end of their watch. Sadly, David did not and his daughters will have to grow up without their father.”
Phillips’s widow, Jen, and daughters Abigail, seven, and Sophie, three, were being comforted by relatives.Phillips’s widow, Jen, and daughters Abigail, seven, and Sophie, three, were being comforted by relatives.
Peter Singleton, chairman of the Merseyside Police Federation, told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that the tragedy was beginning to sink in 24 hours after Phillips died.
He added that he was confident that the killer or killers would be caught. “We will get them,” he said. “There is a steely determination to bring the perpetrators of this hideous act to justice.”
Colleagues have set up a memorial fund in Phillips’s honour and donations can be made online or by text. Singleton said: “The entire police family is in mourning at his death, and this memorial fund enables people to donate in Dave’s memory. He was simply doing his job.”
Donations can be made at via the JustGiving website or by texting DAVE01 £(amount) to 70070.
On Tuesday morning police remained outside Oxton Estates in Woodhouse Road, from where the Mitsubishi was stolen. Residents said the car was usually parked outside the sales and letting shop and had stickers advertising the business.On Tuesday morning police remained outside Oxton Estates in Woodhouse Road, from where the Mitsubishi was stolen. Residents said the car was usually parked outside the sales and letting shop and had stickers advertising the business.
Phillips is the first Merseyside police officer to be killed on duty as a result of a criminal act since 1981. The force has thanked people for the messages of support and condolences it has received from across the country.Phillips is the first Merseyside police officer to be killed on duty as a result of a criminal act since 1981. The force has thanked people for the messages of support and condolences it has received from across the country.
Anyone with information is asked to call Matrix serious organised crime unit on 0800 230 0600 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.Anyone with information is asked to call Matrix serious organised crime unit on 0800 230 0600 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.