Verdict date set for teen on trial for 1st-degree murder of Calgary police officer

The teen accused of murdering Calgary Police Officer Sgt. Andrew Harnett will learn his fate next month.

The 19-year-old can't be named because he was a youth at the time of Harnett's death in 2020.

The teen, who was driving when Harnett was dragged by a fleeing vehicle,offered to plead guilty to manslaughteron the first day of trial. That offer was rejected by prosecutor Mike Ewenson and the case proceeded on a charge of first-degree murder.

On Friday, lawyers agreed to return to court on Nov.10 forCourt of King's Bench Justice Anna Loparco to hand down her decision.

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On New Year's Eve 2020,Harnett and two colleagues conducted a traffic stop along Falconridge Boulevard N.E., pulling over an Infinity SUV.

As they were about to issue tickets to the underage driverand arrest the passenger on outstanding warrants, the vehicle took off with Harnett clinging to the side.

Harnett was dragged 400 metres and then lost his grip as the Infinity reached speeds of nearly 100 km/h on Falconridge Boulevard. The 37-year-old officer was struck by a car in the oncoming lane.

The passenger in the SUVwas Amir Abdulrahman, 20, who pleaded guilty last month to a lesser charge of manslaughter. Last week, he was sentenced to five years in prison.