A police motorcyclist involved in a collision that led to the death of an elderly pedestrian while escorting a royal convoy in London has been acquitted of causing death by careless driving.
PC Christopher Harrison, 68, was riding his BMW motorbike as part of a police convoy when the incident occurred on May 10, 2023, at a pedestrian crossing on West Cromwell Road in west London. The court heard that he was allegedly traveling between 44mph and 58mph approaching the pedestrian crossing, where the speed limit was 30mph.
Despite the charges against him, PC Harrison was found not guilty by the jury after a deliberation period of two hours and 25 minutes. Following the verdict, emotions ran high as someone in the public gallery shouted out in distress. The judge then cleared the Metropolitan Police officer of any wrongdoing.
The victim, Helen Holland, 81, sustained severe injuries including a skull fracture, lower leg fractures, and extensive bruising from the collision. Tragically, she succumbed to these injuries two weeks after the incident due to complications arising from a severe head injury.
During the trial, PC Harrison, who had over two decades of experience in the specialist escort group, expressed deep emotion as he testified. He described the collision as an unforeseen tragedy that occurred beyond his control.
Although he admitted to certain oversights, such as forgetting to activate his body-worn camera and not using his whistle at the time of the collision, he denied any negligence on his part. He explained to the jurors that the victim appeared suddenly in front of him, leaving him with no time to react.
Witness Diana Cetara, who was present at the scene during the accident, recounted the harrowing event, stating that the victim was struck by the motorbike and thrown away upon impact.
The incident took place as the royal convoy, led by the Duchess of Edinburgh, departed from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on King Charles Street around 3 pm. The outrider team accompanying the convoy was responsible for ensuring the convoy’s security while on the move.
Prosecutor Michelle Heeley KC emphasized during the trial that while PC Harrison had the authority to exceed the speed limit under certain circumstances, he still bore the responsibility to drive with caution, especially around pedestrians.
Expert witness Johnathan Moody, from Lancashire Police, criticized PC Harrison’s actions, stating that they did not align with expected standards of a competent rider. He highlighted that as the final motorcycle in the convoy, PC Harrison should have exercised better judgment by halting at the red light.
Prior to the trial, the victim’s granddaughter, Helena, paid tribute to her grandmother’s loving and vibrant personality, expressing deep sorrow over her untimely passing.
A statement released by Buckingham Palace on behalf of Sophie Wessex conveyed the royal’s profound sadness over the tragic loss of Ms. Holland, extending heartfelt condolences to the grieving family.
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