A Metropolitan Police motorcyclist has been acquitted of causing the death of an 81-year-old woman while escorting the Duchess of Edinburgh through London. Christopher Harrison, 68, was found not guilty of causing death by careless driving on Thursday after a jury at the Old Bailey deliberated for two hours and 25 minutes.
Helen Holland died two weeks after Harrison's police motorbike struck her on a pedestrian crossing in West Cromwell Road, west London, on May 10, 2023. Harrison was part of a convoy escorting Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, from the Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office just after 3pm. Harrison had 21 years of experience in the specialist escort group and told the court he was «very familiar» with the route.
Speed and Collision Details
Harrison was traveling between 44mph and 58mph as he approached the crossing, where the speed limit was 30mph at the time. Holland was 2.9 metres onto the crossing when she was hit. She suffered a skull fracture, bruising to her arms, legs and body, plus fractures to her lower legs. A post-mortem examination determined she died from complications from a severe head injury.
During the trial, Harrison became emotional while giving evidence. He told jurors: «She was just there in front of me.» He added: «She just appeared, between the kerb line and the point of collision.» The officer said he had «no control over» what he called a «tragic accident».
Prosecution Arguments
Prosecutor Michelle Heeley KC argued that Harrison «was allowed to exceed the speed limit but he still had a duty to drive carefully». She told the court that as a police escort motorcyclist, Harrison could exceed speed limits and go through red lights, but still had a duty to other road users to ensure his driving was careful.
Witness Diana Cetara, a passer-by, testified about the collision: «She was crossing, a motorbike hit her and then she flew away – to be honest, I was a bit of a mess then.» Harrison admitted he had forgotten to switch on his body-worn camera and did not use his whistle when approaching the crossing.
After the verdict, a person from the public gallery shouted: «You ruined our family with no consequences.» Judge Martin Chamberlain then told Harrison he was free to leave.
Note: This article was created with Artificial Intelligence (AI).
