A grieving mother whose daughter was killed by her father in the US is calling for an urgent meeting with Andy Burnham. Jane Coates's daughter Lucy Harrison, 23, was visiting her dad Kris Harrison in Prosper, near Dallas, when he shot her in the chest in January 2025. Local police investigated Lucy's death as possible manslaughter, but Harrison was never arrested and a grand jury chose not to indict him.
Inquest finding and refusal to reinvestigate
An inquest in England later concluded Lucy was unlawfully killed, finding her dad's actions amounted to gross negligence manslaughter under UK law. But the local police department and prosecutor are refusing to reinvestigate the case and declined to meet Jane when she travelled to Texas last week.
Desperate for answers, Jane, from Warrington, Cheshire, is now pushing for a meeting with the Prime Minister to strengthen support for Lucy back home. She said: "I'm a bereaved mum and am unstoppable in wanting justice for my daughter.
"I don't know what he [Andy Burnham] can do, but what I do know is that the buck stops with him – so for him to be able to raise Lucy's case and advocate for the pursuit of justice for Lucy, that would be amazing. There's a local link too – me and Lucy are from Warrington and so is he, and Lucy went to Manchester Metropolitan University where he was Mayor."
Support from retired lawyer Radd Seiger
Jane, 49, is being supported by Radd Seiger, a retired lawyer best known for leading the family of Harry Dunn in their successful quest for justice. He added: "When you have a focussed meeting with some of the most senior people in government, it's incredible how often new ideas come forward.
"If the shoe were on the other foot and this had happened to two Americans in London, you can only imagine the pressure the authorities would be put under. This is a two-way relationship between close allies and the British government must do everything in its power to ensure that Lucy gets the justice she deserves."
Lucy, a fashion buyer, was in a bedroom with her dad on January 10, 2023, when his semi-automatic handgun went off and she was shot through the chest. Body-cam footage shows Harrison telling officers he had shown his gun to Lucy when "it just went off."
Investigation gaps and trip to Texas
Despite an officer smelling alcohol on Harrison's breath, he was not breathalysed. CCTV later obtained by police showed him buying two cartons of wine earlier that day. Police records show officers also failed to conduct a crime scene reconstruction to clarify the angle Lucy was shot at, or question Harrison about his difficult relationship with his daughter.
Jane travelled to Prosper last week in a bid to persuade the Police Chief and Collin County District Attorney's office to relook at the case, but they flatly refused to meet with her. She said: "I am a reasonable person, I was willing to have a dialogue with them, but they've just doubled down at every single opportunity, put a wall up and denied me, as Lucy's mum, the courtesy of a face-to-face meeting. If they really do believe that their investigation was thorough and complete, then why don't they tell me that and stand by that, but they haven't been able to."
Seiger, who accompanied Jane to Texas, has referred the prosecutor to the state bar – the legal regulator – for investigation. He said: "Due to the prosecutor's obstructive approach to Jane, I'm now concerned that he's obstructing the pursuit of justice. It's blindingly obvious that this was a bad investigation and it's his job as the prosecutor to push back at the police and say no, you've got to go and redo this. But instead he's saying it's over, it's done."
Determination and public support
Jane says the authorities' refusal to cooperate has made her even more determined to get justice for her daughter. "It's actually just served to further my resolve, because it absolutely says more about them than it does me. When you've got right on your side you can move mountains, and we intend to do just that.
"I was afraid how the public in Texas would perceive me – but they have been so welcoming and just want to help in any way they can, whether that's sharing online posts, writing to the District Attorney themselves or offering accommodation for us for future visits. I feel stronger, and I think it's from that people power – the support of knowing that locals in Prosper were mortified that Lucy's death was swept under the carpet. It means so so much to me."
At the core of her fight is her daughter. "I brought Lucy up as an independent young woman with her own voice, but her voice was lost in this. Being able to travel to Texas, and give Luce her voice back there, means everything to me."
