Police officer found not guilty of causing death of pensioner hit during Duchess of Edinburgh escort

A police motorcyclist has been cleared of causing death by careless driving after a crash that killed a pensioner while escorting the Duchess of Edinburgh through London.

Helen Holland, 81, died two weeks after being struck at a pedestrian crossing on West Cromwell Road in west London on May 10, 2023.

The Old Bailey hearing heard that Metropolitan Police constable Christopher Harrison, 68, was speeding between 44mph and 58mph as he approached the crossing, which had a 30mph speed limit at the time.

The jury acquitted Pc Harrison on Thursday after deliberating for two hours and 25 minutes.

After the verdict was announced, one person from the public gallery shouted: “You destroyed our family with no consequences.”

His Honor Judge Martin Chamberlain then told PC Harrison he was free to go.

Jurors were told that on the day of the incident, Pc Harrison was among the team of convoy motorcycle pioneers who accompanied Sophie as she left the Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office on King Charles Street after 3pm.

The car the duchess was in and the police support vehicle were also part of the convoy.

The defendant, who had 21 years of experience in the specialist escort group, said he “could not express in numbers” how many times he had been on this journey and that he was “very familiar” with the route.

Ms Holland was 2.9 meters from the pedestrian crossing when she was struck by Pc Harrison’s motorbike, the court heard.

He suffered a skull fracture, bruising to his arms, legs and body, as well as fractures to his lower legs.

The autopsy revealed that the cause of death was serious head trauma complications.

Pc Harrison, who became emotional as he gave evidence during the trial, told jurors the collision was a “tragic accident” that occurred in circumstances “over which he had no control”.

Under cross-examination, he acknowledged that he had forgotten to turn on his body-worn camera and that he had not used his whistle as he approached the pedestrian crossing, but insisted that he had not been complacent that day.

“He was there, right in front of me,” he told jurors.

“It appeared between the curb line and the point of impact.

“I never saw him on the island, I’m sorry.”