PC Andrew Harper trial: Teenager set up alibi knowing ‘perfectly well’ he had dragged officer to his death, court told
Written by News on 09/07/2020
A teenager has been accused of constructing a false alibi involving the film Fast And Furious while knowing “perfectly well” he had just dragged a police officer to his death.
Henry Long, 19, had been trying to avoid arrest for stealing a quad bike when PC Andrew Harper became tangled in a tow rope attached to Long’s Seat Toledo in Berkshire on 15 August last year.
Earlier this week, Long told the Old Bailey he had not realised what had happened to the 28-year-old Thames Valley Police officer and now felt “disgraceful” about it.
But under cross-examination on Wednesday, Long was accused of trying to cover up his involvement in PC Harper’s death by creating a false alibi as soon as he returned to the caravan site where he lived.
Jonathan Laidlaw QC reminded Long of a “terrifying” video the jury had seen of a police driver trying to recreate the route taken from where PC Harper came loose and the caravan site.
Mr Laidlaw said: “Do you know you were able to drive that run quicker than that advanced driver – over 30 seconds quicker?
“It just gives an indication of how fast you were prepared to drive that night because you had killed a policeman and you knew it.”
Mr Laidlaw said that, on returning to the caravan site, Long had immediately set about creating his alibi – seeking the support of his aunt and cousin for his assertion that he had been watching the film Fast And Furious.
Long had said he chose to lie in his first police interview because he was “scared” but Mr Laidlaw said that “does not make any sense at all”.
The prosecutor went on: “Of all things you were going to pretend you had watched, what was it you said? It was Fast And Furious.
“That was involving what? Illegal car chases and racing?”
The defendant replied: “That’s correct.”
Mr Laidlaw continued: “And you thought that was the appropriate lie to tell police in the circumstances?”
Long repeated that he had been “scared”.
The lawyer said: “The truth is you were not thinking about anybody but yourself. You knew perfectly well you dragged PC Harper to his death. You had set out to tough this out.”
Long replied: “That’s not correct.”
Long has previously said he was unaware PC Harper was attached to his car as he drove for more than a mile along country lanes – at what the court has heard were speeds of around 42mph – before the police officer became dislodged near the A4 in Berkshire.
Long was arrested hours later at the caravan site after a police helicopter found his Seat vehicle.
He has admitted PC Harper’s manslaughter and conspiracy to steal a quad bike, but denies murder.
His passengers Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers, both 18, from near Reading, admit conspiracy to steal but deny murder.
The trial continues.
(c) Sky News 2020: PC Andrew Harper trial: Teenager set up alibi knowing ‘perfectly well’ he had dragged officer to his death, court told
