Dad shot daughter dead and then 'lied' about drinking alcohol
A 23-year-old woman was shot dead by her dad while on holiday at his home in Texas, an inquest was told. Lucy Harrison was on holiday with her boyfriend Sam Littler on January 10 when she was fatally shot from “medium range” at the detached house in Prosper, Texas.The couple had arrived at her dad’s American home on December 28, having flown out from Heathrow airport. Lucy and Sam had bought their first home together just nine months earlier and had welcomed family round for their first Christmas in their Warrington home days before they left the country.According to a medical report seen by the ECHO, Lucy was shot in the chest by another person, with five witnesses present in the house when police arrived. It also stated Lucy had no alcohol or drugs in her system.The incident occurred at the home of her dad, Kris Harrison, in the small town of Prosper. Despite Lucy suffering a gunshot wound to her chest from "medium range" fired by another person, a grand jury found no-one would be prosecuted over her death on June 10 last year.A grand jury in Texas consists of 12 people who determine whether there is probable cause to believe a person committed a felony, assessing all evidence in private. Despite the person accused of committing a crime being charged by police, they are not named if the grand jury decides to conclude criminal proceedings.At an inquest into the death of the young woman at Cheshire Coroner's Court in Warrington today, February 10, senior coroner Jacqueline Devonish heard from Mr Harrison's counsel Ana Samuel, who argued the coroner was "potentially biased" as she applied for a recusal.She further claimed that the coroner was "trying to catch Mr Harrison out" due to not providing disclosure. She continued to say there was a "clear impression the inquest has been carried out in the way of a criminal investigation rather than that of a fact finding issue".When asked to comment on the coroner's ability to provide a conclusion, she noted she would likely be looking at handing down the conclusion of unlawful killing. She said: "The only matter that is potentially relevant to you is what experience did Mr Harrison have, if any, with the firearm and whether Mr Harrison was under the influence."Lois Norris, representing Lucy's mum, argued that Mr Harrison had 113 days to raise any concerns from when he was asked to provide a witness statement to the court. She said: "When an interested person requests disclosure it should be provided as soon as reasonably possible. That was provided as soon as reasonably practical."She continued: "This is simply an ambush by Mr Harrison's legal team on the morning of what is already an incredibly traumatic day."She stated that Mr Harrison was "historically an alcoholic" and the coroner had to determine how Mr Harrison and his daughter found themselves in a bedroom of the property alone with the firearm.Ms Devonish declined to recuse the hearing and step down from conducting the inquest. She told the court: "Mr Harrison has lost his opportunity to provide his evidence. He was the only person in the room at the time Lucy was shot and it was important that he provided his statement of fact. There was no need for him to see the disclosure."I don’t provide bundles until we have the initial statement as I take it into account in reviewing evidence."Ms Devonish outlined that she has no relationship with those involved in the inquest, and as a result, had no need to step down from her role.She continued: "I do not feel the need to stand down from this case today or at any time."Following further dispute from Ms Samuel, Ms Devonish said: "When I received the police statement he had lied about his drinking and had not admitted to being an alcoholic."She added: "He only said yesterday that he admits drinking alcohol on the day in question."Lucy's mum, Jane Coates, paid tribute to her daughter when she sat down for an emotional interview with the ECHO. She said: "It's so hard to capture who she was, and who she still is, using words because they just don’t come close."She was full of energy and life, and she was bold and brave. She was so emotionally intelligent, she was able to feel everything and she wasn’t ashamed of feeling everything."
