Coroner to hand down findings in death of Harri Jokinen in police pursuit crash

A coroner will deliver their findings after an innocent Canberra father died in a crash with a driver from the NSW South Coast who was fleeing police in a high speed pursuit.

An inquest into the death of Harri Jokinen (top), who was killed by Marc Anthony Jessop (bottom) during a police pursuit in 2021. Picture: Contributed/Facebook

The coroner will deliver their findings after a Canberra father tragically lost his life in a fiery car crash caused by a driver from the South Coast as he was being pursued by police.

Harri Jokinen was 56 when his life was cut short on December 30, 2021 when his vehicle collided head on with Marc Anthony Jessop.

Jessop had been involved in three police pursuits that day, with one chase reaching up to 180km/h in a 100km/h zone south of Bredbo.

The final chase happened in Williamsdale on the Monaro Hwy, where the Moruya man reached 188km/h before he tried to overtake a vehicle on double lines.

Dashcam footage showed Jessop sideswipe two vehicles before he collided with Mr Jokinen’s vehicle.

Harri Jokinen and his eldest daughter Lisa Jokinen. Picture: Contributed

Mr Jokinen was trapped inside his car, and despite best efforts by emergency services, died at the scene.

Blood tests revealed Jessop had alcohol and drugs in his system at the time of the incident, and he had been disqualified from driving until 2025.

Harri Jokinen and his partner Libby Adamson. Picture: Contributed

In 2023, Jessop pleaded guilty to manslaughter, driving disqualified, driving a conveyance without consent, and two counts of break and enter.

He was sentenced to 10 years in jail, with a minimum seven-year non-parole period.

Marc Anthony Jessop. Picture: Facebook

An inquest into the appropriateness of the police pursuit and deployment of tyre deflation devices has been undertaken.

The coroner will hand down their findings into the matter on May 16.