Andrew Harper: Case dropped against man accused of newlywed PC's murder
Jed Foster was arrested and charged with the murder of PC Andrew Harper but prosecutors say the case against him has been dropped.
Thursday 19 September 2019 16:44, UK
A man accused of the murder of PC Andrew Harper has had the case against him dropped.
Jed Foster was arrested and charged with the murder of the newlywed police officer in Berkshire last month.
But the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has announced that the charge against him has been dropped and he will be released from custody.
Three teenagers appeared at the Old Bailey on Thursday charged with the murder of PC Harper, who was killed after being hit by a car while investigating a burglary.
Henry Long, 18, from Mortimer in Reading, and two 17-year-old boys, who cannot be named because of their age, were remanded in custody to appear at the same court for a plea and trial preparation hearing on 13 December.
The three teenagers had appeared at Reading Magistrates' Court earlier the same day where they spoke only to confirm their name, date of birth and address during the eight-minute hearing.
They, along with Thomas King, 21, from Basingstoke, are also accused of conspiracy to steal a quad bike.
King was released on conditional bail to return to Old Bailey on 13 December as well.
PC Harper, 28, was killed on 15 August near the village of Sulhamstead in Berkshire when he was dragged under a van while responding to reports of a burglary.
He had been married to his wife Lissie for just four weeks when he died.