A young man accused of murdering newlywed PC Andrew Harper as the officer responded to reports of a burglary has appeared in court.
Jed Foster, 20, appeared via video link during a hearing at Reading Crown Court on charges of murder and theft of a quad bike.
He spoke only to confirm his name and wore grey prison-issue trousers and top as Judge Paul Dugdale set a trial which is due to begin January 20 and last three weeks.
The public gallery was packed with the families of the Thames Valley Police officer and Foster.
PC Harper, 28, died last Thursday evening in the village of Sulhamstead in Berkshire after he was dragged under the wheels of a vehicle and possibly hit by a police car.
Thames Valley Police arrested 10 boys and men aged between 13 and 30 from a nearby caravan park in the wake of the killing, but so far only Foster has been charged.
He has not entered any pleas to the charges and his solicitor has not made an application for bail.
Foster was charged on Monday evening after investigators were granted an extra 24 hours to question the suspects.
He appeared at Reading Magistrates' Court on Tuesday, where his barrister Rob Jacques told the court Foster "denies any involvement in the horrific murder of PC Harper".
The remaining nine suspects have been bailed until September 13.
PC Harper and his wife Lissie got married just four weeks before he died in the line of duty.
They were due to go on their honeymoon this week.
An online fundraising page set up to support PC Harper's widow and family has so far collected more than £240,000.
