Family Seeks Justice After Police Officer Acquitted in Fatal Crash
The devastated family of an 81-year-old great-grandmother killed by a police motorcyclist is taking legal action against the Metropolitan Police after the officer was cleared of causing her death. Relatives of Helen Holland insist the acquittal proves the justice system treats officers differently and claim the verdict has left them shattered.
The Tragic Incident in Earl's Court
Helen Holland died in hospital two weeks after being struck at a pedestrian crossing in Earl's Court in May 2023 while a royal convoy was heading west out of London. The mother, grandmother and great-grandmother had set off just minutes earlier from her sister's flat to return to Essex when the fatal collision occurred.
Last week, a jury at the Old Bailey found PC Christopher Harrison not guilty of causing death by careless driving, returning its decision in just over two hours. The ruling immediately sparked anger in the public gallery, where someone shouted: 'You ruined our family with no consequences.'
Family's Outrage and Allegations of Two-Tier Justice
Family members left the court in tears, convinced accountability had slipped away. Helen's brother Chris Holmes and granddaughter Kelly Williams earlier told ITV News the verdict effectively pushed blame onto Helen even though she had crossed on a green man.
Chris said: 'If the policeman is not guilty of careless driving, then she's guilty of careless walking. I feel there's a terrible injustice.'
Kelly called the outcome evidence of 'a two-tier justice system. The police are above the law.' She warned the public to take extra care when crossing legally, adding: 'More people will die at the hands of the police because they can just go through a red light, kill a pedestrian when it's their right of way.'
Revealing Trial Details and Speed Concerns
During the trial, jurors heard the experienced escort rider was travelling between 44mph and 58mph in a 30mph zone as he approached the controlled crossing, which was showing red for traffic. He told the court Helen 'just appeared' in front of him - a claim her family strongly reject.
Other witnesses described a devastating impact, with one telling the court the pensioner landed 'like a ragdoll' after being thrown into the air. Helen was nearly three metres into the carriageway when the bike hit her.
The convoy had already been warned the lights had turned red, the court heard, but PC Harrison rode through around 18 seconds later. Although escort officers are permitted to drive through red lights and exceed speed limits, prosecutors said they 'still had a duty to drive carefully'.
Family's Fight for Accountability Continues
Outside court after the not-guilty verdict, Helen's son Martin said: 'The public want to be very careful when they cross at a green light because the police could kill them.'
The Met released a statement saying its 'thoughts and sympathies' remained with the family and insisted it was 'deeply sorry'. Commander Adam Slonecki said changes had been made, including fitting motorcycles with bullhorns to improve warnings. The road has since been reduced to a 20mph limit.
The police watchdog has said PC Harrison may still face a gross-misconduct hearing. But Helen's relatives say that is not enough and they now plan to sue the Met.
Martin told The Times the family's fight is not about money but accountability: '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.'
PC Harrison, a Met escort rider for more than two decades, became emotional while giving evidence, telling the jury: 'As soon as I had vision of Mrs Holland, I braked. She was just there in front of me - she just appeared.' His motorcycle was later found to have no faults.
