PC Andrew Harper murder trial collapses because of coronavirus after three jurors self-isolate

Nine remaining members of jury discharged hours after Lord Chief Justice pauses trials with insufficient safety measures

The trial of three teenagers accused of murdering PC Andrew Harper has collapsed due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Three jurors who had been hearing the case for two weeks have gone into self-isolation, meaning they could no longer attend court.

A judge told the Old Bailey that he had discharged the remaining nine jurors with a “heavy heart” after the third person was forced to drop out over the weekend.

Mr Justice Edis 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 PC Harper, who would have been 29 yesterday, for this process to come to a conclusion."

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The judge set a review hearing on 1 June to set a date for a fresh trial, and said the defendants will remain in custody.

The trial collapsed hours after the Lord Chief Justice released new guidance over coronavirus, preventing the start of any new jury trials and pausing any with insufficient protective measures in place.

Barristers’ associations and legal campaigners have called for all trials to be stopped to protect the health of lawyers, court workers, juries, victims, witnesses and defendants.

But people “essential to the running of the justice system” have been designated key workers by the government, meaning they can still travel to work.

Courts are scrambling to increase the use of video links and telephones to conduct as many hearings as possible remotely, but there are shortages of the necessary technology.

In a message issued on Monday morning, the Lord Chief Justice said that jury trials could not be conducted remotely but that many would be “paused” for social distancing measures to be put in place.

“This morning no new trials are to start,” Lord Burnett added. “Jurors will only be asked to come in for trials where specific arrangements to ensure safety have been put in place … all hearings in the crown court that can lawfully take place remotely should do so and other hearings not involving a jury should continue if suitable arrangements can be made to ensure distancing.”

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said it was “urgently discussing” arrangements with HM Courts and Tribunal Service to ensure there is a safe environment for staff and the public.

Numerous trials have already been affected by the pandemic, with jurors going into isolation and some reportedly refusing to serve because of the risk to their health.

The PC Harper murder trial had been one of eight at the Old Bailey to continue last week.

Henry Long, 18, and two 17-year-old boys were accused of killing the Thames Valley Police officer in August.

He became entangled in a tow rope as he tried to apprehend quad bike thieves and was dragged more than a mile along country lanes, jurors were told.

Colleagues desperately tried to save PC Harper but he suffered 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.

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 and was shown harrowing dash-cam footage and eyewitness accounts.

Additional reporting by PA