ITV documentary The Killing of PC Harper: A Widow’s Fight for Justice fronted by Sir Trevor McDonald to air this week

A documentary about the death of PC Andrew Harper and his widow Lissie's battle to change the law for those convicted of killing an emergency worker is to be broadcast on ITV.

In the programme, fronted by Sir Trevor McDonald, Lissie Harper allows cameras into her private life for the first time as she talks about how she and Andrew were childhood sweethearts and the profound effect his killing has had on her life.

Just four weeks after his and Lissie’s wedding in 2019, PC Harper went to investigate a robbery and never came home. After getting caught up in the tow rope of a getaway car, he was dragged for more than a mile at speeds of over 40mph. He died at the scene.

Henry Long, 19, from College Piece, Mortimer, was sentenced in July 2020 to 16 years and 18-year-olds Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers, from Paices Hill, Aldermaston, and Windmill Corner, Mortimer Common, respectively, were handed 13 years in custody over the manslaughter of the Thames Valley Police traffic officer.

Long – the leader of the group – admitted manslaughter, while passengers Cole and Bowers were convicted of manslaughter after a trial at the Old Bailey.

All three were cleared of murder by the jury, which deliberated for more than 12 hours.

Lissie reveals the moment the three teenagers were convicted of manslaughter but not murder – and her rage when the killers and their families cheered at the verdict. Although they were jailed for a combined total of 42 years, the lack of a murder conviction and their apparent lack of remorse, including pictures of them joking outside the trial, pushed Lissie to take drastic action.

She outlines to Sir Trevor how her grief and anger at the sentences evolved into a refusal to be a victim and instead drove her campaign for the introduction of ‘Harper’s Law’ which would see a life sentence for anyone guilty of killing an emergency worker while committing a crime.

Sir Trevor visits the scene of the crime with the senior investigating officer, DCI Stuart Blaik, and talks to Thames Valley Police’s chief constable, John Campbell, about losing an officer in the line of duty.

He also talks to lead prosecutor Jonathan Laidlaw QC, who lays out to Sir Trevor the challenges faced in getting a murder conviction.

In a post on Facebook, Mrs Harper wrote: "At the beginning of 2021 I was approached with the idea of being part of a documentary to tell the story of my battle for justice after my husband was killed in 2019.

"I considered this for a long time but ultimately decided it was a way to help my Harper’s Law campaign to achieve change and justice."

She went on to explain the trauma of reliving her pain, but she said she was "honoured to work with legendary Sir Trevor McDonald, who was a true joy to meet and spend time with and I will never forget being interviewed by him".

Mrs Harper said: "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. The hard work that is involved in changing a law and the dedication and love I have given for Andrew and for those who may find themselves in that heartbreaking position in the future.

"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… This is the final media push before Harper’s Law receives its royal assent, which I hope will happen very soon."

The Killing of PC Harper: A Widow's Fight for Justice will be broadcast on ITV on Tuesday, March 15, at 9pm.