Pressure is mounting on the UK government to call on authorities in Texas to reopen the case of Lucy Harrison, a 23-year-old British woman who was shot dead by her father at his home near Dallas. Lucy, from Warrington, was killed in January 2025 after an argument about US President Donald Trump. A grand jury in Collin County decided against indicting Kris Harrison, and no criminal case was brought against him. However, an inquest earlier this year found that Mr Harrison had “recklessly” shot his daughter in the chest while both were in his bedroom.
Inquest Finds Unlawful Killing
Senior coroner for Cheshire Jacqueline Devonish ruled that Mr Harrison’s actions amounted to unlawful killing on the grounds of gross negligence manslaughter. The inquest heard that Mr Harrison had consumed 500ml of vintage chardonnay without his family’s knowledge on the day of Lucy’s death. He claimed that as he lifted his 9mm Glock handgun from its case, retrieved from his bedside cabinet under a stack of books, the firearm discharged and killed his daughter. The court rejected this account, finding that the gun had not simply gone off.
Political Pressure in Parliament
Labour MP for Warrington South, Sarah Hall, raised the case during an end-of-term debate in the House of Commons on Thursday. She urged ministers to press authorities in Texas to reopen or formally reconsider Ms Harrison’s case. “She was in her father’s home, somewhere she should have been safe,” Ms Hall said. The MP noted that Lucy’s family, including her mother Jane and boyfriend Sam Littler, were not given adequate support from the Foreign Office, including information on how the Texas legal system works.
Background of the Incident
On the morning of January 10, 2025, Lucy and her father had a “big argument” about President Trump. Lucy’s boyfriend Sam testified that Lucy asked her father: “How would you feel if I was the girl in that situation and I’d been sexually assaulted?” Mr Harrison replied that he had two other daughters who lived with him, so it would not upset him that much. This caused Lucy to become upset and leave the room. Shortly before he was due to drive Lucy and Sam to the airport, Mr Harrison took Lucy by the hand into his bedroom, where the shooting occurred.
Call for UK Government Action
Ms Hall implored the government to use every channel to press Texas authorities to reopen the case. “I implore the Government to use every channel it has to press the relevant authorities in Texas to reopen or formally reconsider Lucy’s case, and to stand alongside a British family to ensure that the findings of a British court are properly considered,” she said. She also called for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office to provide better support for families of constituents murdered abroad. Lucy’s family wants the coroner’s findings to be taken seriously and fully re-examined by US authorities.
