A man has been charged with the murder of the newlywed police officer who was killed on Thursday night while investigating a burglary in Sulhamstead.
Jed Foster, 20, appeared at Reading Magistrates’ Court today where he was charged with the murder of 28-year-old PC Andrew Harper, and the theft of a quad bike.
He is yet to formally enter pleas, but his solicitor Rob Jacques told the court during the three-minute hearing that Mr Foster denied any involvement in Pc Harper’s murder.
Speaking outside court, Foster’s solicitor Rob Jacques, said in a statement to reporters: “Mr Foster emphatically denies any involvement in the murder of Pc Harper.
The roads policing officer, who became a regular officer in 2011 after joining as a special constable a year earlier, had attended a reported break-in with a fellow officer at about 11:30 pm on Thursday.
A post-mortem examination concluded that he died of multiple injuries.
Harper had been married for just a month before he was killed. His wife, Lissie, released a tribute calling him “the kindest, loveliest, most selfless person”.
The officer on duty with PC Harper was not physically injured but is being given emotional support, Thames Valley Police said.
Mr Foster has been remanded to appear at Reading Crown Court on Wednesday.
