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PC Andrew Harper trial: Officer 'could not recognise' colleague | PC Andrew Harper trial: Officer 'could not recognise' colleague |
(32 minutes later) | |
A police officer who was dragged behind a car sustained such severe injuries one of his colleagues "could not recognise him", a court has heard. | A police officer who was dragged behind a car sustained such severe injuries one of his colleagues "could not recognise him", a court has heard. |
Andrew Harper suffered "catastrophic" injuries after being dragged behind the vehicle in Berkshire in August. | Andrew Harper suffered "catastrophic" injuries after being dragged behind the vehicle in Berkshire in August. |
The Old Bailey heard a statement from PC Simon Pink who said he knew 28-year-old PC Harper but "from the injuries I saw I could not recognise him". | |
Henry Long, 18, of Mortimer, Reading, and two 17-year-old boys deny murder. | Henry Long, 18, of Mortimer, Reading, and two 17-year-old boys deny murder. |
The court has heard how PC Harper responded to a report of a stolen quad bike, when a strap trailing behind a Seat Toledo got "lassoed" around his ankles as it accelerated away. | The court has heard how PC Harper responded to a report of a stolen quad bike, when a strap trailing behind a Seat Toledo got "lassoed" around his ankles as it accelerated away. |
PC Harper was dragged for about a mile and after he became detached from the vehicle in a country lane near Sulhamstead, Berkshire, several officers tried to save him. | PC Harper was dragged for about a mile and after he became detached from the vehicle in a country lane near Sulhamstead, Berkshire, several officers tried to save him. |
Prosecutor Jonathan Polnay read a statement by Thames Valley Police firearms officer Nick Kluger, who said he felt "an immense sense of dread and an urgency" when he heard an officer was down. | |
PC Kluger and other officers used a defibrillator to try to save PC Harper and he "said something like: 'Stay with me, buddy, the ambulance will be here soon and they'll sort you out'". | |
He said he felt "elation" when paramedics arrived but PC Harper's injuries were deemed "incompatible with life" and he was pronounced dead at 23:45 BST. | |
PC Andy Kemp, who responded to the quad bike theft report, told the jury he saw a car come "straight through the junction" of Lambdens Hill with the A4. | |
'Tumbling' | |
The court heard PC Kemp saw "no lights on the car at all" and he saw something that made him think that "they had stolen a cash machine". | |
As he turned into Ufton Lane, he said some "ratchet straps" on the ground and a body which "appeared to be tumbling". | |
Mr Long, the car's driver, and two 17-year-olds deny murder. Mr Long has previously admitted manslaughter and conspiracy to steal a quad bike. | Mr Long, the car's driver, and two 17-year-olds deny murder. Mr Long has previously admitted manslaughter and conspiracy to steal a quad bike. |
On Monday, the two 17-year-olds, who cannot be named due to their age, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to steal a quad bike. | On Monday, the two 17-year-olds, who cannot be named due to their age, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to steal a quad bike. |
They also deny manslaughter. The trial continues. |