Police officer cleared of killing lecturer’s son as car hit ruled ‘tragic accident’

A police officer has been cleared of causing death by dangerous driving after a patrol car hit a pedestrian..

Pc Christopher Corker, 40, had been due to stand trial at the Old Bailey on Monday after Arthur Holscher-Ermert, 27, was killed in the crash in Peacehaven, East Sussex.

He was accused of having deliberately steered on the wrong side of the road towards the victim in a “misguided and dangerous attempt to stop him running away”.

The case was based on video footage from the police car and a passing motorist of the incident at 11.10pm on April 30 2022.

But the court heard that experts had agreed that Pc Corker, who was charged in December 2023 and suspended from Sussex Police, was trying to avoid hitting Mr Holscher-Ermert.

They said the manoeuvre would have succeeded had the victim not also changed direction.

Judge Richard Marks KC said: “My sincere condolences for the loss the family suffered. It appears to have been a tragic accident.”

Footage played at an earlier hearing showed the moment Mr Holscher-Ermert was struck. He was walking across the A259 South Coast Road when the police car crossed the white centre road markings and hit him.

Prosecutor Jonathan Sandiford KC said: “The Crown case was that the collision had been caused by him deliberately steering his vehicle on to the wrong side of the road in a misguided and dangerous attempt to stop the deceased running away.

“Because the officer had already reacted, there was a collision. The deceased tried to stop and appeared to have stumbled into the officer’s vehicle.

“The experts have agreed steering onto the wrong side of the road may have avoided a collision.”

the victim’s family including his father, economics lecturer Prof Jens Holscher, said after the hearing: “Instead of attending trial today, we as a family have had to process the sudden news that the CPS are discontinuing criminal proceedings against Pc Corker.

“This is incredibly upsetting and disappointing. We were hoping to start to get answers about what happened to Arthur and why.

“We are shocked to now find out that PC Corker isn’t going to be held criminally accountable for what he has done.

“Our fight for the truth and accountability goes on.”

Mark Riley, solicitor for Pc Corker, said: “This case was difficult for all concerned. We are pleased that the court recognised that this was a tragic accident.”

The CPS charged the officer following a year-long investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct. The watchdog said it would now consider its decision that two officers should face gross misconduct hearings for potential breaches of professional behaviour.

Jo Shiner, chief constable of Sussex Police, said: “We  welcome the outcome reached by the court. My thoughts remain with Mr Hölscher-Emert’s family and also the officer who has faced criminal proceedings over the last 20 months.”

An inquest is now expected to open.