The mother of a Warrington woman who was unlawfully killed after being shot by her father in Texas is preparing to travel to the United States 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 give her their full support.
Speaking more than 19 months after Ms Harrison's death, she said she is hopeful of meeting the district attorney and pushing 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 the UK.
A grand jury in Collin County subsequently decided there was insufficient evidence to bring criminal charges after Mr Harrison claimed the Glock handgun discharged accidentally while he was showing it to his daughter, reports Cheshire Live.
In February this year, a coroner in England concluded Ms Harrison had been unlawfully killed, finding that her father's actions amounted to gross negligence manslaughter under UK law.
Pursuing 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.
Discussing why she has felt "alone" throughout her campaign, Ms Coates explained to 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 would mark a significant moment in her pursuit of justice. She went on: "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."
Appeal to Texas prosecutors
Ms Coates confirmed that she and Mr Seiger are now preparing to visit Texas, hoping to convince the Collin County District Attorney's office to re-examine the case following the coroner's conclusions.
When asked what constitutes a positive outcome from the US visit, Ms Coates responded: "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."
Senior coroner Jacqueline Devonish ruled in February that Mr Harrison's conduct had been "reckless". The inquest revealed he had been consuming wine prior to taking a loaded Glock pistol from his bedside cabinet. The coroner determined that the weapon could only have been discharged after being aimed at Lucy and the trigger deliberately pulled. It also emerged that Texas police officers failed to conduct an alcohol test on Mr Harrison, despite detecting the smell of alcohol on his breath.
Call for government support
Ms Coates stressed she was not calling upon the Foreign Office to meddle in the American legal system, but was urging 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 formally requested a meeting with Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband and other senior government figures. When questioned about what would constitute a positive outcome from the meeting, Ms Coates explained: "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."
Ms Coates revealed that pursuing justice had left her with limited time to mourn Lucy properly. She explained to PA: "I think this second year has been much harder actually than the first."
She described how the second year had brought the full weight 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.
Working as a deputy head teacher, Ms Coates explained the campaign has become something her pupils are monitoring intently. She added: "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'?"
Mr Seiger stated that Ms Harrison's situation was precisely the kind of complicated international matter that Dame Anne Owers' review into the Government's management of the Dunn case anticipated would warrant high-level assistance.
An FCDO spokeswoman said: "Our thoughts remain with Jane and her family for the tragic loss they have suffered." She added: "We were in contact with the family and provided consular support." The spokeswoman continued: "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.
