- Published
The mother of a British woman who was shot and killed by her father in Texas has been told that police in the UK have "no lawful authority to intervene" as the family tries to find answers.
asserted
family → publish → answers
Lucy Harrison, 23, from Warrington was shot in the chest on 10 January 2025 in Prosper, Dallas - found by a UK coroner to be an unlawful killing.
However, no criminal case was brought against her father Kris Harrison, after a grand jury in Collin County declined to indict him.
asserted
jury → shoot → him
Lucy's mother Jane Coates wrote to Cheshire Police urging them to "gather evidence" here locally, and then "liaise" with US authorities - but the force has responded and said it was "constrained" by law and jurisdiction.
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it → write → law
In a letter to Coates, Deputy Chief Constable Mike Evans said: "Whilst we may share the family's concerns and understand their desire for further scrutiny, we have no lawful authority to intervene in decisions taken by those agencies."
uncertain
we → say → agencies
Last month, Coates flew to Texas in a bid to meet the district attorney in Collin County and to call on him to reinstate the investigation but was told he would not speak to her.
asserted
he → fly → her
The grand jury had decided there was insufficient evidence to bring criminal charges after Kris Harrison said the Glock handgun discharged accidentally while he was showing it to his daughter.
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he → decide → daughter
In February, a coroner in England concluded Lucy had been unlawfully killed, finding that her father's actions amounted to gross negligence manslaughter under UK law.
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actions → conclude → law
Police in Texas have, however, said they would not reopen the investigation.
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they → say → investigation
Evans said the force was "ultimately constrained by legal, jurisdictional and practical realities that significantly limit what any police force in England and Wales can do in relation to a death that occurred in the United States," he said.
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he → say → States
Given the "unusual circumstances reported" of Lucy's death, a Senior Investigating Officer had been tasked with looking into the case.
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Officer → give → case
That officer appointed a Family Liaison Officer and sought information from the relevant United States law enforcement agencies.
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officer → appoint → agencies
He said that despite the "clear jurisdictional limitations," the force's actions "reflected our recognition of the exceptional circumstances of the case and our commitment to providing whatever support and assistance was realistically available."
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support → say → case
The family had argued that as Kris Harrison is a British citizen, a mechanism exists under certain circumstances, where those from the United Kingdom who commit murder or manslaughter, can be prosecuted before British courts.
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who → argue → courts
In response, Evans said: "Even where jurisdiction may arguably exist in law, the practical ability to investigate and prosecute remains severely constrained when the suspect, witnesses, exhibits and evidential opportunities are all located overseas.
uncertain
suspect → say → law
"No parent should have to endure the loss of a child in such tragic circumstances, and I fully appreciate that the passage of time does not diminish the family's need for answers or their determination to understand exactly what happened to Lucy," Evans added.
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Evans → have → Lucy
Coates' lawyer Radd Seiger, has since said the family had "serious concerns about the investigation and whether all the relevant evidence was properly gathered and considered.
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evidence → say → investigation
Further information, including a recent download from Lucy's mobile phone, contained information which "we believe are relevant to the circumstances leading up to her death."
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we → include → death
"We are not asking Cheshire Constabulary to take over an American investigation or to determine what happened in Texas.
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what → ask → Texas
Instead, he said they were asking the force "to obtain and examine relevant evidence which has not yet been properly investigated".
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which → say → evidence
"The family have spent nearly two years trying to get answers about Lucy's death and justice for her.
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family → spend → her
"They are not prepared to accept that the investigation is complete simply because the American authorities have decided not to take the matter further," he added.
asserted
he → prepare → matter
The Aporia
