UPDATE: Youth who dragged Calgary police officer Andrew Harnett to his death handed 12-year prison term

Dragging an “exemplary and decorated” Calgary police officer to his death during a routine New Year’s Eve traffic stop has landed a Calgary man, who was just 17 at the time, a 12-year prison term.

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Justice Anna Loparco handed the offender, now 20, that adult sentence on Wednesday, in connection with the Dec. 31, 2020, death of Sgt. Andrew Harnett, a native of Hagersville.

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Despite a provision of the Youth Criminal Justice Act which allows for the identification of youths handed adult sentences, Loparco granted an application by defense counsel Zachary Al-Khatib to issue a publication ban pending appeal.

Loparco convicted the offender of a reduced charge of manslaughter in connection with the death of Harnett, who had pulled the teen over for not having his headlights illuminated.

“What began as a routine traffic stop ended in tragedy,” Loparco said.

She agreed with Crown prosecutor Mike Ewenson that the killing of a police officer was a particularly aggravating factor.

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But she also told the offender that it will be up to him to use his time behind bars to turn his life around.

“You cannot reverse what you have done. There is no way to give back a life,” she said.

“However, while incarcerated as a just punishment for your actions, you will have the ability to focus on rehabilitating yourself. So that you can ultimately lead a pro-social and crime-free life.”

The offender had been charged with first-degree murder, but Loparco ruled the teen didn’t have the necessary deadly intention for a murder conviction.

During the traffic stop by Harnett, it became apparent the killer’s front-seat passenger, Amir Abdulrahman, was wanted on warrants.

As backup officers approached the passenger side of the SUV to arrest Abdulrahman, Harnett walked towards the driver’s side door to ticket the youth.

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But as he did so, the offender hit the gas, dragging Harnett nearly half a kilometer, before the officer lost his grip and fell into oncoming traffic.

The offender, Abdulrahman and a still unidentified backseat passenger then fled the scene, which Loparco said was one of the many aggravating factors she considered.

Ewenson sought a sentence of 11 to 13 years for the killer, who was just 11 days shy of his 18th birthday at the time of the crime, while Al-Khatib proposed a 7 1/2-year term.

Outside court, the prosecutor said it was crucial that the sentence reflect the gravity of taking the life of a police officer on duty.

“This was what should have been a routine traffic stop being conducted by an officer who was out there on New Year’s Eve trying to make the roads safer for Calgarians and tragically died as a result,” Ewenson said.

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“Police officers have to be respected and when one dies in the line of duty it’ll be treated very seriously by the courts.”

And despite getting a sentence in the range he sought, Ewenson said it was difficult to say he was happy with the result.

“This case is about the loss of a really respected officer and a really loved family member,” he said.

“So it’s always in the back of your mind that no matter what number you get the justice system can’t bring the life back.”

With credit for time already served, the killer will have nearly eight years left to serve before his sentence is completed.

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X: @KMartinCourts

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