PC Andrew Harper murder trial: Jurors visit death scene

Jurors in the PC Andrew Harper murder case have visited the area where the officer was dragged to his death by a car.

The policeman was responding to reports of a quad bike theft when he was dragged behind a Seat Toledo along country lanes for more than a mile.

Jurors boarded a coach from the Old Bailey to Berkshire to see key locations in the case on Wednesday.

Henry Long, 19, Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers, both 18, all deny murder.

Before jurors left the court in London, Mr Justice Edis told them a prosecutor would point out features of interest at various stops.

They would also have the chance to ask questions, he said.

Jurors were taken to the home of Peter Wallis, near the village of Stanford Dingley.

He was previously heard in court on a 999 recording as he watched his £10,000 Honda quad bike being taken from his drive.

The jury next visited Admoor Lane, where a reconstruction of the "confrontation" between PC Harper and the defendants had been set up.

The court previously heard this was where the officer became caught in a tow rope, after he had exited his unmarked police car to apprehend one of the suspects.

Mr Justice Edis said: "The vehicles have been put in similar positions to the position they would have been in during part of the incident."

Jurors spent time examining a dark grey patrol car positioned nose-to-nose with a Seat Toledo.

The "endless loop" tow rope, which became "lassoed" around PC Harper's ankles, had been reattached to the rear of the Seat.

The jury then retraced the route the Seat took and stopped briefly to examine posts at the side of the road on Lambdens Hill before disembarking at the A4.

Posies of silk flowers were tied to posts, marking the place where PC Harper fell in the road and died.

A small circle of blue and white painted stones had been laid on the verge in tribute to the officer, with one saying "when your heart stopped beating a part of me died".

Long, from Mortimer, Reading, has pleaded guilty to manslaughter.

Cole, of Paices Hill near Reading, Bowers, of Moat Close, Bramley, and Long have all pleaded guilty to conspiracy to steal a quad bike.

The trial continues.