Calgary

Plea to preempt murder trial for alleged passenger in hit-and-run death of Calgary officer, says lawyer

A lawyer for a man charged in the hit-and-run death of a Calgary police officer says his client's trial will not start next week because he plans to make a plea bargain.

Alleged driver also charged with 1st-degree murder

A Calgary police in his dress uniform poses in front of a wall of police logos.
Sgt. Andrew Harnett, 37, left behind a mother, two brothers and a pregnant spouse when he was killed in December 2020. (Calgary Police Service)

A lawyer for a man charged in the hit-and-run death of a Calgary police officer says his client's trial will not start next week.

A jury trial was to begin Monday for Amir Abdulrahman on a charge of first-degree murder in the death of Sgt. Andrew Harnett.

Balfour Der has told court that there will instead be a plea with submissions on Wednesday.

Police have said Harnett tried to stop an SUV on Dec. 31 after he noticed its licence plates didn't match its registration.

They said the officer was hit and dragged before he fell and was struck by another car.

Police have alleged Abdulrahman was a passenger in the SUV.

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