Mother of British woman, 23, shot dead by her father in Texas is told UK police have 'no authority'

Jane Coates, 49, of Warrington, contacted Cheshire Police calling on them to collect evidence in the UK and work alongside US authorities — but Deputy Chief Constable Mike Evans told her the force was "constrained by legal, jurisdictional and practical realities." A British coroner ruled in February that Lucy Harrison's death met the threshold for gross negligence manslaughter under UK law, yet no charge was ever brought. Coates's lawyer Radd Seiger says the family now has 'new evidence' and is pushing Cheshire Police to examine material they say was never properly investigated.

Kris Harrison, 52, told police the Glock went off by accident as he was letting his daughter handle it; a Texas grand jury declined to indict him.

Last month Coates flew to Texas — a journey of more than 4,000 miles — to urge the Collin County district attorney to reopen the case, only to be refused a meeting with him.

UK law provides that British nationals who carry out murder or manslaughter overseas can in certain circumstances be prosecuted in England and Wales — the route Lucy's family continue to pursue.