The mother of a 23-year-old British woman shot dead by her father in Texas is preparing to travel to the United States to urge prosecutors to reopen the investigation into her daughter's death.

Lucy Harrison, from Warrington in Cheshire, died on 10 January 2025 after being shot in the chest by her father, Kris Harrison, while they were alone in a room at his home in Prosper, Texas.

A grand jury in Collin County previously decided there was insufficient evidence to bring criminal charges against Mr Harrison, after he claimed the Glock handgun discharged accidentally while he was showing it to his daughter.

However, the legal picture shifted in February when a coroner in England ruled that Lucy had been unlawfully killed, finding that her father's actions amounted to gross negligence manslaughter under UK law.

During the inquest, Cheshire senior coroner Jacqueline Devonish concluded that the weapon could only have been fired after it was pointed at Lucy and the trigger was pulled. The hearing also heard that Mr Harrison had been drinking wine before taking the loaded pistol from his bedside cabinet, and that police in Texas never carried out an alcohol test despite smelling alcohol on his breath.

Speaking to the Press Association more than 19 months on from her daughter's death, Lucy's mother, Jane Coates, said she has felt "incredibly alone" and "deserted by the British authorities" throughout her campaign, noting that her MP, Sarah Hall, has been the only official actively fighting her corner.

Ms Coates explained that while the coroner's conclusion was a significant moment, it has not altered the stance of US prosecutors. She said: "Receiving the unlawful killing outcome was a day full of complete mixed emotions, but one where finally Lucy’s truth and voice has been heard in some capacity. But from then it still hasn’t moved things forward in terms of my request for a reopening of the investigation in Texas."

To help take the fight forward, Ms Coates has teamed up with adviser Radd Seiger, who previously represented the family of Harry Dunn after the teenager was killed in a Northamptonshire road crash involving an American driver.

The pair are now preparing to travel to Texas to meet the Collin County District Attorney's office directly. Ms Coates said her ultimate goal is to present their concerns regarding the initial Texas police inquiry and persuade authorities to reconsider the case in light of the English coroner's verdict.

Back in the UK, the family has requested a meeting with Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband and senior officials. Ms Coates stressed she is not asking the Foreign Office to interfere directly in the American legal system, but wants British ministers to give the family their public backing so they are no longer left campaigning in isolation.

Mr Seiger said the situation is precisely the kind of complex international case that Dame Anne Owers' review into the Harry Dunn case recommended should receive high-level government support, rather than routine consular handling.

What we do not know yet is whether Collin County prosecutors will agree to look at the evidence again, or if the Foreign Office will grant the family a formal meeting. I'll be following this one — check back for updates.