Admit you probably did flawed, family members of late grandmother, 81, mowed down by Met Police royal escort plead – after power biker was cleared over her dying

The family of a grandmother killed by a police motorcyclist escorting the Duchess of Edinburgh after he sped through a red light say they are suing the Metropolitan Police to prove she ‘did nothing wrong’.

Christopher Harrison, 68, was found not guilty earlier this week by jurors at the Old Bailey after telling the court Helen Holland’s death was a ‘tragic accident’.

After the verdict was returned, following two hours and 25 minutes’ deliberation, a person shouted from the public gallery: ‘You ruined our family with no consequences.’

Members of the 81-year-old’s grief-stricken family left the court in tears as the verdict was returned, with one relative standing and shaking his head at the jurors as he got up to leave.

Speaking outside, Mrs Holland’s son Martin Holland said: ‘The public want to be very careful when they cross at a green light because the police could kill them.’

The Met said it had made improvements to its escort unit to reduce the risk of further tragedies, although the police watchdog said Mr Harrison may yet face a gross misconduct hearing. 

Now in the latest development, Mrs Holland’s family said they will sue the Met Police because they want recognition of the royal escort biker’s actions.

Her grieving son Martin told The Times: ‘We’re not in the slightest bit interested in compensation — it’s about proving that mum did nothing wrong. 

‘She would never take a risk. Certainly crossing a road was one of the big risks that was important to her.’

Mr Harrison, of Billericay, Essex, became emotional when he gave evidence this week as he recalled the moment he crashed into Mrs Holland, on the pedestrian crossing on West Cromwell Road, Earl’s Court, west London, in May 2023.

Witnesses said the 81-year-old victim was flung into the air and then flopped on the road ‘like a ragdoll’ after being hit. She died in hospital a fortnight later.

Mrs Holland was a mother of four, grandmother of ten and great-grandmother of eight, and described as the ‘heart’ of her family. 

Serving Met Police officer Mr Harrison, who has been a special escort rider for 21 years, described not having seen pedestrian Mrs Holland until the last moment.

He said he saw a cyclist standing at the side of the road but not the victim.

He told jurors: ‘As soon as I had vision of Mrs Holland, I braked.

‘She was just there in front of me – she just appeared.

‘At no point did I see her on the island (between the two carriageways).

‘I don’t know where she came from but she obviously came from somewhere.’

Mr Harrison, who joined the Met in 1982 but has been on restricted duties since the crash, denied suggestions by prosecutor Michelle Heeley KC that he ‘made a mistake’ that day.

He said: ‘A tragic accident occured with a set of circumstances I had no control over.’

Ms Heeley replied: ‘You did have control, you could have chosen to stop your bike and properly control that crossing.’

Mr Harrison replied: ‘Yes.’

The prosecutor said: ‘And you didn’t.’

Mr Harrison replied: ‘No.’

But he denied he had been complacent.

He said: ‘I think the role I was carrying out, escorting, there is no place for complacency.

‘If you were complacent, you would be having problems left, right and centre.

‘I was not being complacent.’

He said he did not use his whistle as he approached the crossing, had begun accelerating towards the next junction because he considered it safe to do so, and had not turned his bodyworn camera on.

Mr Harrison said he did not believe his driving fell below standards or strayed from his training.

He said: ‘I did everything I have been trained to do on that day, and I believe I did meet the standards.’

He held back tears and took a few moments to compose himself as he told jurors: ‘The incident has had a profund effect on me.

‘It’s been my life, it’s just affected my life from that moment on.’

The court previously heard how long-serving Mr Harrison was riding the BMW motorcycle at speeds of 44-58mph on the run-up to the crossing, although he hit Mrs Holland at a speed between 33 and 38mph.

The road had a 30mph speed limit, though it has since been reduced to 20mph.

Mr Harrison had also gone through a red light, and Mrs Holland was nearly 3 metres into the carriageway when she was struck, the court heard.

Prosecutors said Mr Harrison’s job meant he was allowed to disobey speed limits and red lights during the course of his work, but ‘still had a duty to drive carefully’.

Several vehicles including police motorcycles and cars were in a convoy escorting Sophie, the Duchess, from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office building in central London as it made its way west through the capital towards the M3.

The court heard the traffic lights turned from green to red as the first two police motorcycles went over the crossing, one of them at more than 60mph, and reported to others in the convoy that the lights had changed.

But some 18 seconds later, Mr Harrison drove through the red light and collided with Mrs Holland, who was on the pedestrian crossing.

It is understood she was hit just five minutes after leaving the flat of her sister, Dorothy Phillips, to return home to Birchanger, Essex. 

Prosecutor Michelle Heeley KC told jurors: ‘Mr Harrison was entitled to drive exceeding the speed limit and to go through red lights but he still had a duty to drive carefully, sadly on this occasion his driving was not up to the expected standard.’

Mr Harrison’s motorbike was examined afterwards and there was nothing wrong with it that would have caused the collision.

Witness Helen Mott, who was visiting London from Bristol, was crossing on the road when said she heard ‘a sickening crash’ behind her.

She said: ‘I couldn’t see the woman’s face but my strong impression was she was not coming back.

‘I am sorry to say at this point my strong impression was she was like a ragdoll in the road.’

The judge Mr Justice Martin Chamberlain told Mr Harrison he was free to leave upon the jury’s verdict being returned, although he may yet face a police misconduct hearing. 

Speaking after the case, Met Commander Adam Slonecki said: ‘Our thoughts and sympathies remain with Mrs Holland’s family, and we are deeply sorry for their loss in these circumstances.

‘While nothing we can say or do can make up for this loss, we have worked to safeguard against future tragedies regardless of today’s outcome.

‘Escort riders now have bullhorns fitted to their motorcycles to ensure public safety. They use these in addition to their whistles to warn people they are approaching.

‘While it is crucial police actions are scrutinised, PC Harrison has waited two-and-a-half years for today’s outcome, while Mrs Holland’s family have had to grieve through a protracted period of uncertainty.

‘We have been lobbying for quicker and fairer accountability processes to lessen the impact on all involved. 

‘We will now consider any misconduct matters for PC Harrison as soon as possible.’

Amanda Rowe, director of the Independent Office for Police Conduct, said: ‘At the end of our 12-month investigation we determined there was sufficient evidence to indicate he may have breached the police standards of professional behaviour in relation to his manner of riding. 

‘The officer had also failed to activate his body worn video camera prior to the escort, in breach of Special Escort Group (SEG) policy.

‘He, therefore, had a case to answer for gross misconduct and we will now liaise with the force about disciplinary proceedings.’