Man pleads guilty to manslaughter in hit-and-run death of Calgary police Sgt. Andrew Harnett

The Crown is seeking eight to nine years behind bars for a man who pleaded guilty Wednesday morning to his involvement in the 2020 hit-and-run death of Calgary police Sgt. Andrew Harnett.

Amir Abdulrahman pleaded guilty to manslaughter in court Wednesday morning. A jury trial was scheduled to begin in the case on Monday, but the accused’s lawyer said last week that instead, there would be a plea with submissions.

Abdulrahman was originally charged with first-degree murder in the Dec. 31, 2020 death of Harnett. He pleaded not guilty Wednesday morning to the charge of first-degree murder.

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Members of Harnett’s family, including his widow and brother, were in court on Wednesday. Members of the Calgary Police Service were also in attendance to hear the plea.

Police have said Harnett tried to stop an SUV after he noticed its licence plates did not match the registration. Harnett was struck by the vehicle and dragged before he fell and was struck by another vehicle.

Victim impact statements

Five victim impact statements were heard in court Wednesday, including statements from Harnett’s widow, mother and brother.

His widow, Chelsea, was 15 weeks pregnant when Harnett was killed. She said the couple was just about to share the pregnancy news with their family and friends.

“I was now a pregnant widow at 32… I was left alone to navigate one of life’s most precious experiences.

“The loneliness of parenting without Andrew is near crippling.”

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She went on to say that their son will never get to meet his dad.

“My son’s innocence was taken before he was born… I grieve for a life my son will never get to experience with two loving parents.”

Harnett’s mother, Valerie Harnett, spoke of her son’s achievements.

“Andrew was a man on a mission. He knew who he was and he knew what he wanted. He wanted to be a police officer and more specifically a peace officer,” Valerie Harnett said.

“I miss Andrew every day. I miss his laugh. I miss his raw sense of humor… He was so happy. He was in such a good place. Life was great. Life held so much promise.”

She spoke directly to Abdulrahman, asking him to reflect on his life and take proactive steps to move forward and make better choices.

“What a senseless tragedy for all of us.”

Harnett’s brother, Jason Harnett, began reading his victim impact statement before the Crown took over. Jason Harnett could not continue through his tears.

“He touched so many in such a short but fruitful life,” the statement read. “We never got to see the rest of Andrew’s true potential.”

Jason Harnett wrote about losing the chance to see his brother as a dad. He then took over and began reading his statement again.

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“There will never be a prison sentence that can justify what has been taken from us,” he said. “I hope that you begin to change your life starting today. Don’t waste it.”

Agreed statement of facts

An agreed statement of facts was read in court Wednesday, which outlined that Harnett activated his flashing lights at 10:19 p.m. and began the traffic stop in the community of Falconridge.

Body-worn camera video from the officers that were at the scene, including Harnett, was also played in court. The majority of Harnett’s family, with the exception of his brother, left the courtroom before the video was played.

According to the agreed statement of facts, the accused’s vehicle’s headlights were not working. The vehicle turned into a nearby parking lot, where the driver identified himself but said he did not have a driver’s licence. The driver said the passenger, Abdulrahman, had a licence, which Harnett asked him to produce.

A third male was seen in the back of the vehicle, but the Crown said Wednesday he remains unidentified, despite public pleas for help in the case.

Shortly after pulling over the vehicle, officers on scene referenced Abdulrahman’s outstanding warrants, at which time the driver reached for the gear shift.

Harnett opened the vehicle’s door in an attempt to stop it from leaving the scene, but the force of the vehicle driving away slammed the door shut.

Harnett was able to hold on to the open window as the vehicle continued to drive.

Two other officers approached the vehicle with their guns drawn. The vehicle then drove up onto a berm and onto Falconridge Blvd.

In video played in court, the accused can be see grabbing the steering wheel, turning it three times. Abdulrahman reached for the wheel several times while the driver attempted to push Harnett from the vehicle by kicking and pushing the door open.

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The agreed statement of facts outlines that Harnett was dragged 427 metres from the site of the traffic stop.

The fleeing vehicle eventually crossed over into oncoming traffic, where Harnett fell from the vehicle. He was struck by an oncoming vehicle.

The accused’s vehicle was later found abandoned.

In his sentencing submission Wednesday, Crown prosecutor Mike Ewenson said Abdulrahman “may not have been on the gas pedal but he was one of the operators of that car.

“He left Sgt. Harnett to die on the cold, hard pavement,” Ewenson said.

The defence is seeking a two-year sentence followed by a two-year probation period.

The judge is scheduled to deliver Abdulrahman’s sentence on Jan. 28, 2022.

The alleged driver, who cannot be identified under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, is charged with first-degree murder. He is now 18 and is scheduled to go to trial on Jan. 31.

Guilty plea brings ‘resolution’ closer

Wednesday afternoon, Harnett’s widow issued a statement expressing disappointment in the “fractured” judicial system, saying no charge or sentence would be enough compensation for what her family has gone through.

“Instead, we choose to focus on celebrating the incredible man Andrew was, and the meaningful legacy he leaves behind,” Chelsea said.

Defence lawyer Balfour Der told reporters his client has shown his remorse.

“He certainly had viable defences, so pleading guilty and giving up his right to the trial, which is constitutional and he has the presumption of innocence, giving that up speaks volumes about how badly he feels about this and he’s willing to say, ‘Look I’ll take responsibility.’”

The prosecution asked the court to impose an eight- to nine-year prison sentence.

The defence suggested a two-year sentence plus two years of probation as being more reasonable.

“Mr. Abdulrahman had that steering wheel for a total of six seconds, three times for two seconds each. That’s it,” Der said. “And the entire event was only 38 seconds. So his involvement was low. But that’s a hefty penalty, two years incarceration, but it allows the judge to add in probation — that’s the important part.”

Harnett’s brother Jason said hearing Abdulrahman apologize helped him and his mom, but it’s not enough.

“I do believe that it was noble to stand up there and apologize,” he told reporters. “I think my mom felt the same way. Are we in any position to offer forgiveness right now? No. Are we in any position to say we want less time in jail? Absolutely not.

“But I feel he at least had the guts to get up there and apologize, and whether he was coached or not, it will go down that he did go up and he had a few words for the family.”

As for the defence’s assertion that Abdulrahman had only a small part to play in the officer’s death, Jason Harnett said the defendant should have done more.

“I don’t believe that for one second,” he said. “As the Crown attorney pointed out, there’s a police officer, there’s multiple police officers on the scene, there’s flashing lights, they’d been stopped, they knew what was happening, they knew the consequences.

“I mean, there’s no doubt in my mind they could have said, ‘Stop.’ The gas pedal could have been released. The whole scenario could have been completely different. People could have walked away, went home.”

A statement from CPS said they continue to feel the loss of the sargeant.

“Today’s guilty plea by the adult passenger accused in his case brings us one step closer to a resolution,” a written statement said.

–with files from Adam Toy, Global News

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