The impending early release of two men convicted in the killing of PC Andrew Harper has reignited public anger and grief, bringing the brutal case back into the headlines. Albert Bowers and Jessie Cole, who were convicted of manslaughter in the 2019 death of the police constable, are now eligible for early release as part of government efforts to address prison overcrowding.
PC Harper was killed on August 15, 2019, while responding to a burglary call. The 28-year-old officer, who had been married just four weeks earlier, was dragged for over a mile behind a car driven by Henry Long, one of the teenagers involved. His ankles had become entangled in a strap attached to a stolen quad bike being towed by the vehicle. The officer died at the scene, with his police badge and stab vest found scattered along the roadway.
At the Old Bailey trial in 2020, the prosecution stated that PC Harper was acting beyond the call of duty. Haunting dashcam footage from the police patrol car showed the moment he confronted the teenagers before disappearing from view. Long pleaded guilty to manslaughter, while Bowers and Cole were convicted of the same charge by a jury. The jury was not convinced that the pair knew they were dragging the officer behind the car, a detail that led to their manslaughter convictions rather than murder.
However, the presiding judge, Mr. Justice Edis, described the case as a manslaughter offense that was "very close to a case of murder" in its severity. The image of the teenagers, Bowers and Cole, laughing as they were led from court in handcuffs further fueled public outrage following the conviction.
Lissie Harper, PC Harper's widow, had been married to him for only four weeks when she received the devastating news of his death. The couple, who had met as teenagers and were together for 13 years, had been preparing for their honeymoon. She later described the moment she learned of his death as having "every ounce of beautiful peace, gone."
The case deeply resonated with the public, partly due to the tragic circumstances and the young age of the victim and perpetrators. The upcoming eligibility for early release for Bowers and Cole has once again brought PC Harper's sacrifice and the details of his final moments to the forefront of public consciousness, prompting renewed distress among his family, fellow officers, and the wider community.