THE CROWN Prosecution Service has released a statement following the sentencing of PC Andrew Harper's killers today.
Shortly after Henry Long, Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers were sentenced to 16 years (Long) and 13 years (Bowers and Cole), the chief crown prosecutor for Thames and Chiltern, Jaswant Kaur Narwal, said: "PC Andrew Harper was a young police officer whose life was tragically cut short by the senseless acts of three teenagers, leaving his family, friends and colleagues totally devastated.
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"Our thoughts remain with them during this very difficult time.
"This was a harrowing and evidentially challenging case.
"We relied on hundreds of witness statements and exhibits, expert evidence and a meticulous reconstruction of the tragic circumstances of that night, to put forward the strongest possible case for murder.
"Having heard all the evidence in relation to PC Harper’s death, the jury convicted Henry Long, Albert Bowers and Jessie Cole of manslaughter.
"Our deepest sympathies remain with PC Harper’s family who we know are unhappy with the verdict.
"The jury can only convict if they are certain beyond reasonable doubt, having heard all the evidence, and we respect their decision.
LIVE BLOG: PC Harper killers' sentencing
"Long, Bowers and Cole’s criminal actions resulted in the needless death of a brave, young man who was killed in the line of duty, and they will spend a total of 42 years in prison for that."
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