A veteran police motorcyclist involved in a tragic accident that led to the death of an 81-year-old woman in London while escorting a royal convoy has been acquitted of causing death by careless driving.
PC Christopher Harrison, 68, was riding his BMW motorcycle as part of a police escort for the Duchess of Edinburgh when the incident occurred on West Cromwell Road in west London on May 10, 2023. The court heard that he was allegedly traveling at speeds between 44mph and 58mph in a 30mph zone when he struck Helen Holland at a pedestrian crossing.
Following two hours and 25 minutes of deliberation, the jury found PC Harrison not guilty of the charge. Emotions ran high in the courtroom as someone from the public gallery voiced their dismay, but the judge released the Metropolitan Police officer after the verdict was delivered.
The victim, Ms. Holland, sustained severe injuries including a skull fracture, lower leg fractures, and extensive bruising, which tragically led to her passing away two weeks later due to complications from a severe head injury.
During the trial, PC Harrison expressed his deep regret over the incident, describing it as a “tragic accident” beyond his control. Despite admitting to some oversights such as failing to activate his body-worn camera and not using his whistle at the crossing, he denied being negligent that day, stating that Ms. Holland suddenly appeared in his path.
Witness Diana Cetara, who was present at the scene, recounted the collision, describing how Ms. Holland was hit by the motorcycle and thrown from the impact.
The incident occurred as the duchess was departing the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, with PC Harrison’s team responsible for ensuring the safe movement of the convoy while assessing potential risks.
Prosecutor Michelle Heeley KC argued that although PC Harrison had privileges as a police escort to exceed speed limits and ignore traffic signals, he still had a duty to exercise caution, especially towards pedestrians like Ms. Holland.
Expert witness Johnathan Moody criticized PC Harrison’s actions, stating that a competent rider would have stopped at the red light to control the crossing.
Helena, Ms. Holland’s granddaughter, paid tribute to her grandmother as a loving and vibrant individual who was taken from their family prematurely.
A statement from Buckingham Palace conveyed Sophie Wessex’s deep sadness over Ms. Holland’s death, offering condolences and sympathies to the bereaved family.