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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Coronavirus: PC Andrew Harper murder trial jury dismissed | Coronavirus: PC Andrew Harper murder trial jury dismissed |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Jury dismissed in trial of three teenagers after three jurors went into self-isolation | Jury dismissed in trial of three teenagers after three jurors went into self-isolation |
| The jury in the Old Bailey trial of three teenagers for the murder of PC Andrew Harper has been discharged due to the coronavirus pandemic. | The jury in the Old Bailey trial of three teenagers for the murder of PC Andrew Harper has been discharged due to the coronavirus pandemic. |
| Henry Long, 18, and two 17-year-old boys were accused of killing PC Harper in August last year. | Henry Long, 18, and two 17-year-old boys were accused of killing PC Harper in August last year. |
| The 28-year-old Thames Valley officer became entangled in a tow rope as he tried to apprehend quad bike thieves, jurors were told. | The 28-year-old Thames Valley officer became entangled in a tow rope as he tried to apprehend quad bike thieves, jurors were told. |
| The stricken officer was probably knocked unconscious as he fell, then dragged more than a mile along country lanes behind a Seat Toledo car driven by Long, the court was told. | The stricken officer was probably knocked unconscious as he fell, then dragged more than a mile along country lanes behind a Seat Toledo car driven by Long, the court was told. |
| Colleagues desperately tried to save him but he sustained catastrophic injuries and died at the scene near Sulhamstead, in Berkshire. | Colleagues desperately tried to save him but he sustained catastrophic injuries and died at the scene near Sulhamstead, in Berkshire. |
| Long, of Mortimer, Reading, admitted manslaughter and conspiracy to steal a quad bike but denied murder. | Long, of Mortimer, Reading, admitted manslaughter and conspiracy to steal a quad bike but denied murder. |
| The two youths, who cannot be named for legal reasons, admitted conspiracy to steal but denied murder and manslaughter. | The two youths, who cannot be named for legal reasons, admitted conspiracy to steal but denied murder and manslaughter. |
| PC Harper’s widow, Lissie, and other family members attended the trial which opened on 10 March. | PC Harper’s widow, Lissie, and other family members attended the trial which opened on 10 March. |
| Over two weeks, the jury viewed harrowing dash-cam footage and heard a string of witness accounts, with one describing how he at first mistook PC Harper’s body for a deer. | Over two weeks, the jury viewed harrowing dash-cam footage and heard a string of witness accounts, with one describing how he at first mistook PC Harper’s body for a deer. |
| Last week, the jury dropped from 12 men and women to 10, due to jurors going into self-isolation. | Last week, the jury dropped from 12 men and women to 10, due to jurors going into self-isolation. |
| On Monday, Mr Justice Edis made a statement in court that the remaining jurors were discharged and the trial adjourned. | On Monday, Mr Justice Edis made a statement in court that the remaining jurors were discharged and the trial adjourned. |
| He said he had made the decision with a “heavy heart” after a third juror went into isolation over the weekend. | He said he had made the decision with a “heavy heart” after a third juror went into isolation over the weekend. |
| He said: “It is with great regret that I have decided to discharge the jury and to adjourn this trial. | He said: “It is with great regret that I have decided to discharge the jury and to adjourn this trial. |
| “I have taken this decision with a heavy heart because I am acutely conscious of the need of those who loved Police Constable Harper, who would have been 29 yesterday, for this process to come to a conclusion.” | “I have taken this decision with a heavy heart because I am acutely conscious of the need of those who loved Police Constable Harper, who would have been 29 yesterday, for this process to come to a conclusion.” |
| The judge set a review hearing on 1 June to set a date for the trial to restart. | The judge set a review hearing on 1 June to set a date for the trial to restart. |
| The defendants remain in custody until the fresh trial on a date to be fixed. | The defendants remain in custody until the fresh trial on a date to be fixed. |
| The trial had been one of eight at the Old Bailey to continue last week despite the pandemic. | The trial had been one of eight at the Old Bailey to continue last week despite the pandemic. |
| More than a dozen high-profile Old Bailey trials had already been postponed following measures to delay the spread of Covid-19. | More than a dozen high-profile Old Bailey trials had already been postponed following measures to delay the spread of Covid-19. |
| Last Tuesday, it was announced that upcoming criminal trials lasting more than three days would be put off. On Monday, further measures were announced putting criminal trials on hold. | Last Tuesday, it was announced that upcoming criminal trials lasting more than three days would be put off. On Monday, further measures were announced putting criminal trials on hold. |
| Reacting to the announcement in court, a Thames Valley Police spokesman said: “Clearly this is disappointing and will be a very difficult decision for PC Harper’s family to hear. | |
| “However, Thames Valley Police fully accepts and supports the judge’s decision and recognises the gravity of the ongoing national situation.” |