The mother of a British woman unlawfully killed after being shot by her father in Texas is preparing to travel to America in a bid to convince prosecutors to reopen the investigation into her daughter's death.
Jane Coates told the Press Association she has felt "incredibly alone" and "deserted by the British authorities" throughout her fight for justice for her daughter Lucy Harrison, and has called on the Government to provide their complete support.
Speaking more than 19 months after Ms Harrison's death, she said she hopes to meet with the district attorney and push for a new investigation.
Background to the case
Ms Harrison, a 23-year-old fashion buyer from Warrington, Cheshire, was shot through the chest by her father, Kris Harrison, at his home in Prosper, Texas, on 10 January 2025, the day before she was due to fly home to Britain.
A grand jury in Collin County subsequently decided there was insufficient evidence to pursue criminal charges after Mr Harrison claimed the Glock handgun discharged accidentally while he was showing it to his daughter.
In February this year, a coroner in England ruled Ms Harrison had been unlawfully killed, determining that her father's actions constituted gross negligence manslaughter under UK law.
Campaign for justice
Ms Coates has now enlisted the help of Radd Seiger, who previously advised the family of Harry Dunn in their fight for justice after the teenager was killed by a US citizen in a road crash in Northamptonshire.
Explaining why she has felt "alone" throughout her campaign, Ms Coates told PA: "I think it's not being heard – just raising all of our concerns and nothing being acted upon, and feeling like we've just been deserted by the British authorities.
"I think, save Sarah Hall, my MP, who has done everything in her capacity to raise and escalate Lucy's case, it's just felt like there's been doors shut at every single opportunity, and people haven't been there for us."
Ms Coates revealed she had anticipated the unlawful killing verdict to represent a watershed moment in her pursuit of justice. She went on to say: "We had to wait until February 2026 before we felt that we could freely speak about what we felt had happened to Lucy and how let down we felt.
"Receiving the unlawful killing outcome was a day full of complete mixed emotions, but one where finally Lucy's truth and voice has been heard in some capacity.
"But from then it still hasn't moved things forward in terms of my request for a reopening of the investigation in Texas."
Plans for Texas visit
Ms Coates confirmed she and Mr Seiger are now making plans to travel to Texas in a bid to convince the Collin County District Attorney's office to reopen the case in light of the coroner's conclusions.
When asked what a successful visit to the US would look like, Ms Coates said: "It would be that they do accept the outcome from the coroner in terms of the unlawful killing.
"Although I know that it's a completely different jurisdiction, a completely different law, so it's about appealing to them in terms of our real concerns with the US investigation, with the Texas investigation, and that they do agree to reopen Lucy's case and give it new consideration.
"That's the ultimate goal."
Senior coroner Jacqueline Devonish determined in February that Mr Harrison's conduct had been "reckless". The inquest was told he had been consuming wine before retrieving a loaded Glock pistol from his bedside cabinet.
The coroner found the weapon could only have discharged after being aimed at Lucy with the trigger pulled, and learnt police officers in Texas failed to conduct an alcohol test despite detecting alcohol on his breath.
Appeal for Government support
Ms Coates stressed she wasn't requesting the Foreign Office intervene in the American legal system, but wanted ministers to openly back her family.
"Surely, having an unlawful killing conclusion in a coroner's court should then mean something, and I definitely thought that it would have been escalated in the Foreign Office," she said.
"I'm not calling for the Foreign Office to interfere in jurisdiction abroad... but to be a voice for Lucy and for our family – to know that we are supported by the British Government, to be able to campaign for the case to be reopened."
The family have asked for a meeting with Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband and other senior officials. When asked what would constitute a successful meeting, Ms Coates responded: "I think in the first instance it would be an acceptance and an understanding of what we have been through as a family, and for a recognition that things should have been different.
"And their assurances that they will publicly support us in our campaign and moving forward with the US authorities."
Ms Coates revealed that campaigning for justice has left her with scant opportunity to mourn Lucy properly. She told PA: "I think this second year has been much harder actually than the first.
"I think the first year was cocooned by shock, and so I just went through it in 'doing mode', and just being driven to try and do everything I possibly could to get Lucy a voice and justice for her."
She explained that the second year has brought home the stark reality of losing her only child. "I think, at the moment, I'm in this position where I'm feeling that I've kind of got two daughters in one sense – like this campaigning daughter, where I go into this campaigning mode, and this mum who is campaigning for justice for Lucy, and she's become a campaign," she said.
"But then I've got my real daughter. I know the two are the same.
"But that softness is there, and I think it's just allowing myself to have those opportunities to just be in that place, just me and Lucy.
"But yeah, it's hard."
When asked what she would tell the Foreign Secretary directly, Ms Coates said: "I would say I am a bereaved mum who wants to do everything I possibly can to ensure justice for my daughter and to do the right thing by her and for her, and I really do want the full support of the British Government behind me, so that I no longer feel alone," she said.
"Because I have felt incredibly alone, and I'm not a bitter person. I will not allow bitterness to eat me or to consume me. It's not who I am."
Working as a deputy head teacher, Ms Coates explained the campaign had become something her pupils were following intently. She said: "How can I say to them when I go back into school, 'Guys, forget British values. It doesn't really matter about the rule of law because people won't support you'?.
"I'm not going to say that, but they need to see that happening.
"Lucy is one person, but she represents so much more than one person – she does represent doing the right thing, and it doesn't matter whether it's in the UK or the US. We all know right from wrong."
Mr Seiger stated Ms Harrison's case was precisely the sort of complicated international matter that Dame Anne Owers' review into the Government's management of the Dunn case anticipated would warrant senior-level backing.
He explained the family wanted the case elevated above standard consular procedures and revealed he intended to travel to the United States with Ms Coates to meet the district attorney and pursue a fresh investigation.
An FCDO spokeswoman said: "Our thoughts remain with Jane and her family for the tragic loss they have suffered.
"We were in contact with the family and provided consular support.
"We will always look to learn lessons to improve the consular support we offer to other families in the future."
It is understood that Foreign Office officials are reviewing recent correspondence from Ms Harrison's family and intend to respond. The Collin County District Attorney's Office has been approached for comment.
