81-year-old Helen Holland died after being crashed into by a police officer escorting the Duchess of Edinburgh through West London.
PC Christopher Harrison, 68, was driving between 44 mph and 58mph in a 30mph speed limit on his motorcycle when he approached a red light where Mrs Holland was crossing.
The royal escort is permitted to exceed the speed limit and go through red lights if the driving is done safely, the court heard.
PC Harrison told jurors that he “did not see her in the footway at all on the approach” and the collision was a “tragic accident” which he had “no control over”.
Credit: Matt Capon
The royal convoy was escorting the Duchess of Edinburgh as she left the Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office in King Charles Street. The incident occurred just off the junction at Earls Court on the 10th May 2023.
Matt Capon was the only journalist to witness the motorcade, and in an exclusive interview with City News, he told us:
“At the time I didn’t realise the seriousness of what had occurred. there were a lot of police on the scene around Earls court and I instinctively filmed the scene, not realising the extent of the situation. It was clear this was something more than a tragic accident.”
Mrs Holland suffered a skull fracture, fractures to her lower legs and bruising on her arms, legs and body.
The post-mortem examination ruled the cause of death to be complications from severe head injury.
PC Harrison, under cross-examination, accepted that he had forgotten to turn on his body camera and failed to use his whistle when approaching the pedestrian crossing. He insisted he had not been complacent that day.
“She just appeared, between the kerb line and the point of collision”
“At no point did I see her on the island, I’m sorry”
Despite being acquitted, a person shouted from the public gallery: “You ruined our family with no consequences”.
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StandfirstPC Harrison was escorting the Duchess of Edinburgh in West London at the time of the incident.
81-year-old Helen Holland died after being crashed into by a police officer escorting the Duchess of Edinburgh through West London.
PC Christopher Harrison, 68, was driving between 44 mph and 58mph in a 30mph speed limit on his motorcycle when he approached a red light where Mrs Holland was crossing.
The royal escort is permitted to exceed the speed limit and go through red lights if the driving is done safely, the court heard.
PC Harrison told jurors that he “did not see her in the footway at all on the approach” and the collision was a “tragic accident” which he had “no control over”.
Credit: Matt Capon
The royal convoy was escorting the Duchess of Edinburgh as she left the Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office in King Charles Street. The incident occurred just off the junction at Earls Court on the 10th May 2023.
Matt Capon was the only journalist to witness the motorcade, and in an exclusive interview with City News, he told us:
“At the time I didn’t realise the seriousness of what had occurred. there were a lot of police on the scene around Earls court and I instinctively filmed the scene, not realising the extent of the situation. It was clear this was something more than a tragic accident.”
Mrs Holland suffered a skull fracture, fractures to her lower legs and bruising on her arms, legs and body.
The post-mortem examination ruled the cause of death to be complications from severe head injury.
PC Harrison, under cross-examination, accepted that he had forgotten to turn on his body camera and failed to use his whistle when approaching the pedestrian crossing. He insisted he had not been complacent that day.
“She just appeared, between the kerb line and the point of collision”
“At no point did I see her on the island, I’m sorry”
Despite being acquitted, a person shouted from the public gallery: “You ruined our family with no consequences”.
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