A 20-YEAR-old man who was accused of the murdering of a police officer has had the charges dropped a court heard.

Jed Foster, from Burghfield, had previously appeared in Reading Crown Court charged with the murder of PC Andrew Harper.

As reported earlier today in the Gazette Henry Long, 18, from Mortimer as well as two 17-year-old boys who cannot be named for legal reasons have been charged with murder.

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However, prosecutors at the Old Bailey revealed at a hearing this afternoon that they are no longer pursuing the case against 20-year-old Jed Foster.

After his first appearance in court on August 21, Mr Foster's lawyer Robert Jacques had said he "denies any involvement in the horrific murder of Pc Harper".

At the hearing at the Old Bailey prosecutor Jonathan Polnay told the court Mr Foster had been charged on August 19 when the CPS “threshold test” was met.

However, he said following further police investigations there is now not a “realistic prospect of conviction, and in the circumstances proceedings against Mr Foster cannot and should not be continued”.

As previously reported by the Gazette Long and the two 17-year-old boys are set to stand trial on January 20, 2020 along with Thomas King, 21 of Lane End, Chineham who is charged with conspiracy to steal a quad bike.

Following the Old Bailey hearing Chief Crown Prosecutor Jaswant Narwal released a statement confirming: “The CPS has discontinued the case against Jed Foster, 20, in relation to the ongoing investigation into Pc Harper’s death in Berkshire. The CPS has now reviewed a full file of evidence from the police and concluded that there is not a realistic prospect of conviction. “The decision to charge Mr Foster was taken on the threshold test which is applied when a full file of evidence is not available.”