Who is PC Andrew Harper’s widow Lissie?
NEWLY-WEDS Andrew and Lissie Harper had their happily ever after torn away when he died only four weeks after their wedding in 2019.
Lissie has campaigned ever since to pass Harper's Law to introduce mandatory life sentences for those who take the lives of emergency service workers.
Who is PC Andrew Harper's widow Lissie Harper?
Lissie Harper is the now 30-year-old widow of Thames Valley Police officer Andrew Harper.
The pair were newly-weds when PC Harper, 28, was dragged for more than a mile behind a car and died.
He became entangled in a tow rope while trying to stop the theft of a quad bike near Reading in August 2019.
PC Harper's ankles were tangled as the getaway car drove at 60mph and was unable to free himself.
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The three teenage boys involved in the theft were charged with manslaughter after two days of deliberation.
Lissie told reporters after the verdict: "The way in which Andrew was robbed of his life we all know to be barbaric and inexplicable.
"I am immensely disappointed with the verdict given today."
She added: "I now have my own life sentence to bear and believe me when I say it will be a lot more painful, soul destroying and painful journey than anyone facing a meagre number of years in prison will experience."
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Lissie has since campaigned tirelessly for Harper's Law to be passed, meaning anyone who unlawfully kills an emergency services worker will be jailed for life.
In November 2021, Lissie met with Prime Minister Boris Johnson and the government has backed the law.
However, Harper's Law is somewhat controversial as it does not distinguish between manslaughter and murder.
When did Lissie and Andrew get married?
The couple were childhood sweethearts and tied the knot in July 2019 at Ardington House in Oxfordshire.
It was just four weeks later when the Thames Valley Police officer was killed by teenagers Henry Long, Jessie Cole, and Albert Bowers.
Andrew gave his wife a touching message when they married and it said: "Life is slippery. Here, take my hand."
On what would have been his 29th birthday in April 2020, Lissie posted to Facebook: “Oh my lovely boy, I can’t believe I’m spending this day without you.
“I walked at our favourite spot, I sat in the sun and I remembered all of your special birthdays we did spend together.
“I know you were there with me and will always be in my heart forever more. My love is yours always.”
What has Lissie said about PC Harper's death?
Lissie spoke of "endless sprawling dark" in a heartbreaking letter to her tragic husband on what would have been their first anniversary.
She described her husband as "selfless, beautiful and heroic"; and called his killers "senseless, barbaric and brutal".
Grieving Lissie praised her husband who "wanted to keep everyone safe" and "went the extra mile".
In a documentary for ITV she discussed how her grief and pain drove her campaign for Harper's Law.
She said in a Facebook post: "The documentary itself is a hard watch but tells a powerful story.
"I felt the need to show to the world the wrongdoings that went on in those court rooms."
She added: "Some of you may watch, some of you may not.
"Either way this is a culmination of blood, sweat and tears over the past two years, I want to thank my team and all of the support I have received from my amazing family, friends and strangers…
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"This is the final media push before Harper’s Law receives its royal assent, which I hope will happen very soon."
The ITV documentary The Killing Of PC Harper: A Widow's Fight For Justice features interviews with Lissie and follows her journey with Harper's Law.