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No charges against Prince Harry | |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Prince Harry will not face charges in connection with the alleged shooting of two protected hen harriers on the royal family's estate in Norfolk. | |
Witnesses say the birds were shot dead on the edge of the Sandringham estate. | |
Police officers identified three suspects - Prince Harry, William van Cutsem and David Clarke, a gamekeeper. | |
All three have denied any involvement and the Crown Prosecution Service says there is not enough evidence to bring the case to court. | |
An investigation began after the deaths of the hen harriers on the Sandringham Estate on 24 October. | |
A royal spokesman confirmed police spoke to Prince Harry and a friend but they had no knowledge of the incident. | |
Following the incident, a Clarence House spokesman said: "Because Prince Harry and a friend were both in the area at the time, the police have been in contact with them and asked them if they have any information that could help. | Following the incident, a Clarence House spokesman said: "Because Prince Harry and a friend were both in the area at the time, the police have been in contact with them and asked them if they have any information that could help. |
"Unfortunately, they had no knowledge of the alleged incident." | "Unfortunately, they had no knowledge of the alleged incident." |
Bodies not found | Bodies not found |
Hen harriers are extremely rare with 749 nesting pairs in the UK. | Hen harriers are extremely rare with 749 nesting pairs in the UK. |
The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds say they are disappointed with the outcome and described the shooting of hen harriers as an extremely serious crime. | |
They said a warden monitoring the harriers saw the birds being hit and heard a shot but did not see the shooter. | They said a warden monitoring the harriers saw the birds being hit and heard a shot but did not see the shooter. |
However, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said: "The bodies of the hen harriers have not been found and there is no forensic or ballistic evidence." | |
CPS lawyer Andrew Baxter added: "I am satisfied the police investigation has been thorough and there are no other areas of investigation which can be pursued." | CPS lawyer Andrew Baxter added: "I am satisfied the police investigation has been thorough and there are no other areas of investigation which can be pursued." |