Man, 20, accused of murdering PC Andrew Harper will be freed from custody after charge is DROPPED
A man who was previously accused of murdering PC Andrew Harper will be released from custody today after the charge against him was suddenly dropped.
Thames Valley Police officer PC Harper died from multiple injuries after being dragged under a vehicle while responding to a burglary near Sulhamstead in Berkshire last month.
Jed Foster, 20, from Mortimer near Reading, was initially charged with murder and was remanded in custody following a court appearance.
But the Crown Prosecution Service dramatically announced that it had dropped the charge against him this afternoon and he would be free to return home.
Chief Crown Prosecutor Jaswant Narwal said: ‘The CPS has discontinued the case against Jed Foster, 20, in relation to the ongoing investigation into PC Harper’s death in Berkshire.
‘The CPS has now reviewed a full file of evidence from the police and concluded that there is not a realistic prospect of conviction.
‘The decision to charge Mr Foster was taken on the threshold test which is applied when a full file of evidence is not available.’
Mr Foster’s lawyer previously told a court that he denies ‘any involvement in the horrific murder of Pc Harper’.
The announcement came after three new suspects – 18-year-old Henry Long and two 17-year-old boys who cannot be named – were charged with PC Harper’s killing.
The trio appeared at Reading Magistrates’ Court this morning along with a Thomas King, 21, who is accused of conspiracy to steal a quad bike.
Jed Foster’s mother and sister had always maintained his innocence and insisted others were responsible for the policeman’s death.
His mother Jolene Hannington clutched a Superman teddy bear after his appearance in Reading Magistrates’ Court on August 20, she wrote on Facebook: ‘I know you can’t read this baby, please stay strong. You have many, many messages sending their thoughts. We know you would never be capable of such a horrible, horrific act.
‘We will fight this and hopefully someone that knows the truth will come forward and tell the truth or live the rest of their lives knowing they let an innocent boy go away for something he didn’t do.
‘There’s a lot that doesn’t add up, statements were not taken from people that could give times and places you were and CCTV wasn’t taken either. I love you and behind your innocence all the way. Hang in there, my beautiful boy.’
Last month, his sister Sapphire Cheyanne Foster reportedly posted and then deleated a message on social media which read: ‘Hold it out bubba, we will bring you home if it’s the last thing I do. I plea to anyone that knows anything, no matter how trivial you think it may be, come forward -contact the police.
‘He is being sent down for something he hasn’t done. He is about to lose his whole life and has had his named dragged through the dirt when he isn’t even guilty.’