The mother of one of the men convicted in the killing of PC Andrew Harper has criticized the decision to deny her son early release, describing the officer's death as a "tragic accident" and asserting that her son is "not a danger to anyone."
Donna-Marie Bowers, 44, took to Facebook to voice her frustration after her son, Albert Bowers, and Jessie Cole, both 24, were prevented from being released from prison after serving half of their 13-year sentences for manslaughter. PC Harper was killed in 2019 when he was dragged for a mile behind a getaway car as he attempted to stop the teenagers from stealing a quad bike in Berkshire. The incident caused catastrophic injuries to the newlywed officer.
The decision to keep Bowers and Cole incarcerated longer came after significant public outcry and an emotional campaign by PC Harper's family. Prime Minister Andy Burnham intervened to exclude individuals convicted of unlawful killing from a proposed early release scheme for Labour.
Albert Bowers is serving his sentence at HMP Frankland. Prison sources have previously suggested that Bowers wears the memory of PC Harper's death "almost like a medal" and has shown no remorse, reportedly grinning during court appearances. A prison source described Bowers as "evil" and "completely devoid of any morals or any humanity," predicting he would "kill again at some point in his life when he is eventually released."
However, Bowers' mother disputed these claims in a series of Facebook posts. She blamed "the public" for the decision to block her son's release, suggesting that only "some of the public" opposed it, despite a petition gaining over a million signatures. She accused the Prime Minister of yielding to "a bit of pressure" and suggested he should "stand down" if he cannot resist such influence.
Mrs. Bowers also shared posts that she claimed highlighted "double standards" among campaigners, alleging that police officers convicted of serious crimes did not face similar public condemnation and were protected by colleagues. She wrote that Bowers and Cole were "only kids at the time and are not a danger to enyone [sic] now."
Albert Bowers was 17 at the time of the incident. He, along with Jessie Cole, were passengers in a car driven by 19-year-old Henry Long. Bowers and Cole were acquitted of murder but found guilty of manslaughter. Bowers' mother also addressed a past conviction for sexual assault, asserting it was based on "lies" and that the judge's decision was influenced by Bowers being a "traveler."
PC Harper's family has stated that the efforts to keep his killers behind bars have "re-traumatised" them. Bowers and Cole are expected to remain incarcerated until approximately March 2029, when they will have served two-thirds of their sentences.
