The deaths of Newcastle schoolboy Archie York and PC Andrew Harper are among the most devastating crimes the country has seen, for very different reasons. If the early release of PC Harper's killers is blocked, the man who stole Archie's life should also not be freed.
Two manslaughter cases, one legal loophole
PC Harper, 28, from Oxfordshire, was killed in 2019 when he was dragged behind the getaway car of three teenagers who had fled the scene of a quad bike theft in Berkshire. Seven-year-old Archie York died when a huge explosion, caused by a drug dealer producing cannabis in the flat below, ripped through his Newcastle home as he slept.
The killers of both Archie and PC Harper were convicted of manslaughter. It has since been revealed that Reece Galbraith, who killed Archie, and two of the three teens involved in PC Harper's death, Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers, are eligible for early release as part of a Government scheme to free up space in Britain's overcrowded prisons.
Public outrage and political response
The prospect of PC Harper's killers being freed early has caused national outrage. That those responsible for taking the life of an on-duty police officer would not serve the full sentence handed to them by the courts does not sit right with many.
Despite Downing Street saying last week that it would not be possible to exclude "one or two offenders" convicted of manslaughter from the early release scheme, it has now been revealed that the Prime Minister has asked Justice Secretary Alex Norris to find a way to exclude Bowers and Cole. Andy Burnham has reportedly said he is 'confident' a solution can be found.
Why both cases demand equal treatment
The manslaughter of a police officer is not a specified offence, so the Government will likely need to find a way to treat Cole and Bowers differently from other manslaughter convicts. If this can be done for PC Harper's killers, surely it can be done for Archie York's killer.
Manslaughter covers a range of unlawful deaths, from recklessness to violence. The manslaughters of both Archie, who dreamed of becoming a police officer, and PC Harper were as unique as they were devastating. Both were among the most serious manslaughter cases of recent years.
Galbraith, who changed his plea to guilty for the manslaughter of Archie and Jason Laws, is one of the worst criminals the Chronicle's crime reporter has come across in more than 15 years. He was using highly dangerous amounts of butane gas to extract cannabis shatter when he caused the explosion on Violent Close in Benwell in October 2024.
Impact and next steps
The explosion killed Archie and his friend 35-year-old Jason Laws. Dozens of families lost their homes and the blast caused damage costing millions of pounds. Galbraith robbed Archie's parents, Katherine Errington and Robbie York, of the ability to say goodnight to their son knowing he would be safe in his own home.
Galbraith, of Rectory Road in Bensham, Gateshead, was jailed for 14 years after pleading guilty to two counts of manslaughter. Bowers and Cole were sentenced to 13 years for PC Harper's manslaughter. Downing Street has said it would not be possible to exempt the killers of police officers from the early release provisions, but it has been mooted that the Justice Secretary could ensure prisoners with sentences of 10 years or more are not included.
Mr Norris will be forced to strike a balance to make sure enough prisoners are freed to prevent the prison system from collapsing. But if it is possible to block the release of more prisoners, the release of a man who killed a seven-year-old boy as he slept should be reconsidered in the same way. As Archie's mum Katherine has said: "You can't get any more innocent than a child. All children are innocent. Archie didn't put himself in that situation."
