Man, 18, pleads guilty to manslaughter of PC Andrew Harper but denies murder after officer was dragged to his death under van as he investigated burglary
- Henry Long, 18, appeared at the Old Bailey this morning where he denied murder
- However the teenager pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of PC Andrew Harper
- PC Harper was called to a Berkshire country house to investigate quad bike theft
- The 28-year-old died from after being hit by a van, four weeks after his wedding
A teenager has admitted killing PC Andrew Harper after the officer was dragged to his death under a van as he investigated a burglary.
Henry Long, 18, appeared at the Old Bailey this morning where he denied murder but entered a guilty plea to the lesser charge of manslaughter.
The Thames Valley Police officer was called to an £800,000 country house in Sulhamstead, Berkshire, to investigate reports of a quad bike theft.
The 28-year-old died from multiple injuries after being hit by a van, four weeks after his wedding.
Long appeared from HMP Belmarsh wearing a black puma jumper and admitted manslaughter and conspiring to steal but denied murder and will stand trial.
One of the boys aged 17, who cannot be named, denied manslaughter and conspiracy to steal when he appeared in court over video link.
A teenager has admitted killing PC Andrew Harper (pictured) after the officer was dragged to his death under a van as he investigated a burglary
The 28-year-old died from multiple injuries after being hit by a van, four weeks after his wedding to Lissie (left)
Thames Valley Police officer Andrew Harper and his wife, Lissie, celebrating their wedding day at Ardington House in Oxfordshire
PC Harper’s mother Debbie and other members of his family were present in court during the hearing.
Bespectacled Thomas King, 21, of Lane End, Bramley, Hants, earlier admitted conspiracy to steal and was granted bail ahead of sentence on a date to be fixed.
King is not charged in relation to the murder of PC Harper.
PC Harper had been married 28 days and was due to go on his honeymoon when he died.
His wife Lissie had paid tribute to her husband as the ‘kindest, loveliest, most selfless person you will ever meet’.
PC Harper was the first police officer to be killed on duty since PC Keith Palmer was stabbed to death during the Westminster terror attack in 2017.
Long, of Mortimer, Reading, admits manslaughter and conspiracy to steal but denies murder.
Another boy, aged 17, earlier denied conspiracy to steal but is yet to enter pleas to the charges of murder and manslaughter.
A six-week trial at the Old Bailey is due to start on March 9.
Andrew Harper died from multiple injuries after being hit by a van, four weeks after his wedding