Three more people have been charged in connection with the death of PC Dave Phillips, who was hit by a pick-up truck during a police chase on Merseyside last week.
Georgia Clarke, 19, Dawn Cooper, 34, and Michael Smith, 19, have been charged with assisting an offender and are due to appear at Wirral magistrates’ court today.
PC Phillips, 34, died in hospital on October 5, shortly after being hit while trying to lay down a “stinger” device to stop a vehicle suspected to have been taken during a burglary.
Clayton Williams, 18, who has been charged with murder, apologised to the officer’s family in a statement read out by Andrew Egerton, his solicitor, during a preliminary hearing on October 9.
Mr Egerton said: “Mr Williams has accepted that his actions and his driving caused the death of PC Phillips. He is adamant that he did not drive at the officer and that he did not intend to injure, let alone kill, him.
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“He extended his apology through the police to PC Phillips’ young family. It is now time for the judicial process to take over, and we would ask that all bear in mind Mr Williams’ right to a fair trial.”
Mr Williams is due to appear at Liverpool crown court on October 22. He is also charged with attempting to wound another officer, aggravated theft of a motor vehicle and burglary.
Phillip Stuart, 30, stands accused of burglary and aggravated taking of a vehicle. He is due to appear at the same court on the same date.
An inquest into PC Phillips’ death opened on Wednesday and was adjourned for criminal proceedings. Andre Rebello, Liverpool and Wirral coroner, said that the medical cause of death was shock and haemorrhage due to transection of the thoracic aorta.
A fundraising campaign for his widow, Jen, and their two children has raised £196,000.