A motorcyclist for the Metropolitan Police has been found not guilty of causing death by careless driving after a collision with an elderly pedestrian in the Earl’s Court area of West London
On May 10, 2023, officer PC Christopher Harrison was escorting the Duchess of Edinburgh through Earl’s Court, when his motorcycle struck 81-year-old woman Helen Holland at a pedestrian crossing.
Holland suffered serious injuries, including a skull fracture, that resulted in death after spending two weeks in hospital two weeks later. Complications from the head injury were determined to be the cause of death. PC Harrison was subsequently charged with causing death by careless driving.
In a trial at the Old Bailey that concluded on 13th November, a jury found Harrison not guilty after more than 2 hours of deliberations. The court heard that Harrison had approached the crossing at between 44mph and 58mph, significantly above the speed limit of 30mph. He had also not used his whistle to alert pedestrians as he approached the crossing, nor had he activated his body camera.
If you are under investigation for causing death by careless driving, solicitors at Auriga Advocates can offer a high level of support based on extensive experience of dealing with similar offences. Andrea, our CEO, has years of experience as a fatal road accident specialist with the Crown Prosecution Service, and has a thorough working knowledge of motoring law, and police and court procedures. It is important to get reliable advice as soon as possible, so do not hesitate to call Auriga Advocates for the support you need.