In a tragic incident that occurred on December 31, 2020, Sgt. Andrew Harnett, a 37-year-old Calgary police officer, lost his life after being dragged by an SUV and subsequently struck by an oncoming car. The incident took place as Sgt. Harnett was on duty, and his death deeply affected the community.
The driver of the SUV, who was just days away from his 18th birthday at the time of the incident, was initially charged as a youth with first-degree murder. However, following a legal process, Court of King’s Bench Justice Anna Loparco convicted the now 20-year-old driver of manslaughter.
In a recent court ruling, the young man has been sentenced to 12 years in prison. The decision by Justice Loparco also stipulated that the driver should receive an adult sentence, emphasizing the gravity of the offense.
This sentencing brings some closure to a tragic chapter in Calgary’s history, as the community remembers Sgt. Andrew Harnett’s dedication to serving and protecting his city.
In a sentencing decision made on Wednesday, the young man responsible for the deliberate killing of Sgt. Andrew Harnett, a Calgary police officer, has been sentenced to 12 years in prison. However, the judge gave the defendant four years of credit for the time he has already spent in custody, which means he has eight years left to serve.
The tragic incident occurred on December 31, 2020, when Sgt. Harnett, who was 37 years old at the time, lost his life. The young man responsible for his death, who was just days away from his 18th birthday at the time, was initially charged as a youth with first-degree murder. However, he was ultimately convicted of manslaughter by Court of King’s Bench Justice Anna Loparco, who also ordered that he receive an adult sentence due to the severity of the offense.
Justice Loparco noted in her decision that Sgt. Harnett’s wife was pregnant with their first child when he was killed, highlighting the profound impact of the tragedy on the officer’s family.
During the sentencing hearing, the young man expressed remorse and apologized to Sgt. Harnett’s family, saying, “I accept responsibility. I’m very sorry.”
The Crown had sought a sentence of 11 to 13 years, while the defense argued for a sentence of 7 1/2 years, with credit for time already served.
The trial revealed that Sgt. Harnett had attempted to stop the SUV after noticing that its license plate did not match its registration. The driver testified that he felt scared when the officer and another person approached the vehicle, and he saw Sgt. Harnett place a hand on his gun. In an attempt to evade the police, the SUV took off with Sgt. Harnett clinging to the wheel, desperately trying to stop the driver.
Justice Loparco concluded that the driver had displayed “callous indifference” to the officer’s life and had purposefully acted to dislodge Sgt. Harnett from the vehicle.
It’s worth noting that a publication ban remains in place on the offender’s name until the end of an appeal period.
Additionally, a passenger in the SUV, Amir Abdulrahman, had previously pleaded guilty to manslaughter in 2021 and was sentenced to five years in prison. He was granted day parole earlier this year.