Crown to seek adult sentence in death of Calgary officer
Posted Jan 19, 2021 2:04 pm.
CALGARY (660 NEWS) — Prosecutors will be looking for an adult sentence in the first-degree murder case against a teenager accused in the death of Calgary police Sgt. Andrew Harnett.
Harnett was killed after responding to a traffic stop on New Year’s Eve along Falconridge Dr. N.E. The 12-year veteran of the service was pronounced dead in hospital shortly after midnight on Jan. 1.
Two teenagers face first-degree murder charges, and a bail hearing for an 18-year-old was held on Tuesday. He cannot be named as he was 17-years-old at the time of the offence, which happened only 11 days before his 18th birthday.
He will be tried as a youth and he cannot be named since he was underage at the time of the offence, but if he is convicted the Crown will seek a tougher sentence.
A 19-year-old man, Amir Abdulrahman, will be in court in February for his bail proceedings.
Good morning, I am in Calgary court for the bail hearing of the 17-year-old man accused in the death of police Sergeant Andrew Harnett. Expecting to hear the Crown call for bail to be denied. #yyc
— Tom Ross (@Tommy_Slick) January 19, 2021
The 18-year-old was allegedly the driver at the time of the offence and Abdulrahman was in the front passenger seat.
Most of what was shared in the hearing is covered under a publication ban, however the Crown added it is also requesting for bail to be rejected for the 18-year-old.
Supporters from communities around #yyc of officer Sgt. Andrew Harnett seen driving past the courthouse with messages of NO BAIL! written on the side of their cars. #calgary @660NEWS @citynewscalgary pic.twitter.com/60PvmaQ7Sq
— Nick Blakeney (@CameraGuyNick) January 19, 2021
Harnett had stopped the vehicle just after 10 p.m. on Dec. 31 because the SUV driven by the suspects did not have its headlights on.
His death sparked an outpouring of support from Calgarians and members of emergency services locally, provincially, and around the country.
A funeral and procession was held on Jan. 9.
