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| PC David Phillips: family pays tribute to murdered officer | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The family of David Phillips, who was killed while trying to stop a speeding stolen car, have paid an emotional tribute to the 34-year-old policeman. | The family of David Phillips, who was killed while trying to stop a speeding stolen car, have paid an emotional tribute to the 34-year-old policeman. |
| At a tearful press conference on Wednesday afternoon, his sister Hannah Whieldon said just hours before his final fatal shift he and his wife, Jennifer, were filming one of their daughters. | At a tearful press conference on Wednesday afternoon, his sister Hannah Whieldon said just hours before his final fatal shift he and his wife, Jennifer, were filming one of their daughters. |
| “Two girls have been left without a daddy,” said Whieldon. “My mum and dad left without their only son, their eldest child. My sister and I without the big brother who always kept an eye on us, even when as moody teenagers we’d have really rather he hadn’t. But beyond all our combined grief – which, believe me, makes it hard to breathe – is that of his beautiful wife Jen.” | “Two girls have been left without a daddy,” said Whieldon. “My mum and dad left without their only son, their eldest child. My sister and I without the big brother who always kept an eye on us, even when as moody teenagers we’d have really rather he hadn’t. But beyond all our combined grief – which, believe me, makes it hard to breathe – is that of his beautiful wife Jen.” |
| Jennifer was too distraught to speak, but smiled as Whieldon read a poem written by David to celebrate their fourth wedding anniversary ending with the line: “You are my heart, my soul, my eternity.” | Jennifer was too distraught to speak, but smiled as Whieldon read a poem written by David to celebrate their fourth wedding anniversary ending with the line: “You are my heart, my soul, my eternity.” |
| Merseyside police also released a tribute video with footage of the officer’s two girls playing in a back garden with their cousins. Abigail, seven, read out tributes alongside her younger sister Sophie, three. | Merseyside police also released a tribute video with footage of the officer’s two girls playing in a back garden with their cousins. Abigail, seven, read out tributes alongside her younger sister Sophie, three. |
| “My daddy was a lovely and kind and caring dad,” Abigail said. “My daddy is kind and caring because he gives the best kisses and cuddles. He is my hero. I love you daddy.” | “My daddy was a lovely and kind and caring dad,” Abigail said. “My daddy is kind and caring because he gives the best kisses and cuddles. He is my hero. I love you daddy.” |
| Earlier, the family laid lilies at the grass verge where members of the public and police colleagues had already left floral tributes. The officer’s parents, Robin and Carol, and Jen’s parents, Robert and Kerry, also visited the scene, along with other family members, including his two sisters, Kate and Hannah. | Earlier, the family laid lilies at the grass verge where members of the public and police colleagues had already left floral tributes. The officer’s parents, Robin and Carol, and Jen’s parents, Robert and Kerry, also visited the scene, along with other family members, including his two sisters, Kate and Hannah. |
| Sophie left a message that read: “Daddy, my hero, my super daddy, my world. I love you so much. I will miss our cuddles, tickles, giggles and smiles. I love you lots and lots. Your little princess Sophie x x x x x.” | Sophie left a message that read: “Daddy, my hero, my super daddy, my world. I love you so much. I will miss our cuddles, tickles, giggles and smiles. I love you lots and lots. Your little princess Sophie x x x x x.” |
| A second bouquet from Abigail, with scrawly handwriting, read: “Daddy, I love you so much, you are the best daddy in the whole wide world, you are my hero! I will miss you. XXX Love Abigail XXXXX.” | A second bouquet from Abigail, with scrawly handwriting, read: “Daddy, I love you so much, you are the best daddy in the whole wide world, you are my hero! I will miss you. XXX Love Abigail XXXXX.” |
| Jennifer left her own bouquet of white lilies with a wedding photo. Her message read: “Dave, my pooh Bear! I can’t believe you’ve been taken away from me, you are my everything and have no idea how I am going to carry on with you not by my side. I love you with every inch of my heart and will miss you so so much, Your Mrs XXXXX.” | Jennifer left her own bouquet of white lilies with a wedding photo. Her message read: “Dave, my pooh Bear! I can’t believe you’ve been taken away from me, you are my everything and have no idea how I am going to carry on with you not by my side. I love you with every inch of my heart and will miss you so so much, Your Mrs XXXXX.” |
| Merseyside police made two further arrests on Wednesday afternoon: a 39-year-old man and 59-year-old woman, both from Wallasey, on suspicion of assisting an offender. | Merseyside police made two further arrests on Wednesday afternoon: a 39-year-old man and 59-year-old woman, both from Wallasey, on suspicion of assisting an offender. |
| On Tuesday two men, aged 18 and 30, from the Oxton and Wallasey areas of the Wirral, were arrested on suspicion of murder. Two women, aged 19 and 34, from Wallasey, Merseyside, were also detained on Tuesday on suspicion of assisting an offender. All six are in custody. | On Tuesday two men, aged 18 and 30, from the Oxton and Wallasey areas of the Wirral, were arrested on suspicion of murder. Two women, aged 19 and 34, from Wallasey, Merseyside, were also detained on Tuesday on suspicion of assisting an offender. All six are in custody. |
| About 20 officers took part in a search of a home on Eastcroft Road, Wallasey, a few miles from the site of the fatal collision on Wallasey Dock Road North and Corbyn Street. | About 20 officers took part in a search of a home on Eastcroft Road, Wallasey, a few miles from the site of the fatal collision on Wallasey Dock Road North and Corbyn Street. |
| One man told the Liverpool Echo: “I saw the big yellow police van turn up and about seven or eight coppers ploughed in there. Then another fellow turned up with two dogs. He took one dog in first then the other dog in second. I saw them bring out lots of bags, apparently some computers were also taken out. They were checking the bedrooms and messing around with the lock.” | One man told the Liverpool Echo: “I saw the big yellow police van turn up and about seven or eight coppers ploughed in there. Then another fellow turned up with two dogs. He took one dog in first then the other dog in second. I saw them bring out lots of bags, apparently some computers were also taken out. They were checking the bedrooms and messing around with the lock.” |
| Phillips, 34, was hit by the Mitsubishi L200 Challenger as it was being chased by police following a burglary in the early hours of Monday. The vehicle mounted a central reservation, where he and a young colleague tried to puncture its wheels with a stinger device. The pick-up was later found abandoned. | Phillips, 34, was hit by the Mitsubishi L200 Challenger as it was being chased by police following a burglary in the early hours of Monday. The vehicle mounted a central reservation, where he and a young colleague tried to puncture its wheels with a stinger device. The pick-up was later found abandoned. |
| 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, the 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, the chief constable of Merseyside police, said Phillips “didn’t stand a chance”. |
| Phillips was given CPR by colleagues at the scene but died a short time later at Arrowe Park hospital. A Home Office postmortem found Phillips died from internal injuries caused by the impact with the vehicle. Colleagues have set up a memorial fund in Phillips’s honour and donations can be made online or by text (DAVE01 £(amount) to 70070). | Phillips was given CPR by colleagues at the scene but died a short time later at Arrowe Park hospital. A Home Office postmortem found Phillips died from internal injuries caused by the impact with the vehicle. Colleagues have set up a memorial fund in Phillips’s honour and donations can be made online or by text (DAVE01 £(amount) to 70070). |