More turmoil for Harry Dunn family after contradiction over 'killer's' diplomatic immunity claim

Mum: 'My anger has been reignited' after US government frustrates virtual trial proposal
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Harry Dunn's family have been thrown into fresh turmoil after more contradiction over the Northamptonshire teenager's alleged killer's diplomatic immunity claim.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has concluded Anne Sacoolas was not protected from prosecution after the fatal crash near Croughton last year, in opposition to the stances of the British and United States governments.

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The hope of a virtual trial for the woman charged with causing death by dangerous driving has also been dampened as the Americans now seem unwilling to support the proposal on UK soil as the family wishes.

Harry DunnHarry Dunn
Harry Dunn

Meanwhile, Harry's parents have filed a civil claim for damages against Sacoolas in the US state of Virginia, which has been backed by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).

His mother, Charlotte Charles, told BBC Breakfast: "We've been lead to believe a virtual trial was pretty much imminent, that the obstacles had been cleared to have that done and in fact we're no further forward.

"The US are still not playing ball so needless to say, I'm extremely angry, really angry, my anger has been reignited - as much as it was when we found out the FCO allowed her to leave unlawfully.

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"That anger has really, really bubbled to the surface again because if they hadn't of let her leave, and if they hadn't of withheld information from the police, then we wouldn't need to be stood here today and we would not have our campaign for justice.

"And I'm really angry, clearly, with the US government thinking they can still overrule everything that the UK suggest."

Harry, 19, died in hospital after his motorcycle was involved in a crash with a car being driven by Sacoolas on the wrong side of the road near Croughton on August 27, 2019.

The American woman used a legal loophole, which has now been amended, to claim immunity through her husband, who was working at RAF Croughton for the US government, and leave the country.

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US State Department rejected an extradition request from the Home Office after she was charged by the CPS in December - a decision the American secretary of state said was final.

Harry's family met the director of public prosecutions in London yesterday (Wednesday) hoping to be told a virtual trial would be going ahead for Sacoolas after positive signs from both governments.

Attorney General Suella Braverman said she was considering it after a request from South Northamptonshire MP Andrea Leadsom while the US State Dept said it was working with its British counterparts to bring the matter to a 'reasonable resolution'.

But the family's spokesman, Radd Seiger, said that they were extremely disappointed and upset after the meeting with Max Hill QC as the US wants the trial to be through their justice system, which the victim's parents oppose.

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However, the parents were pleased the CPS supports them on Sacoolas' diplomatic immunity claim and rues the decision to let her leave the country as they were 'left in the dark' by the FCDO.

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab told the House of Commons last year that Sacoolas was immune from prosecution through an 'anomaly' around RAF Croughton, which has since been resolved so it cannot be used again.

CPS director of legal services Greg McGill said yesterday: “Today we have met with the family of Harry Dunn to update them on the various steps the CPS has taken over the last 10 months to secure justice in this tragic case.

“The challenges and complexity of this case are well known, but the CPS and other partners have been working tirelessly to do all they can so that Anne Sacoolas faces the charge we have brought – causing death by dangerous driving.

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“We know this is a very difficult process for the family which is why we wanted to assure them personally that we continue to seek justice for them and for the public.”

The civil claim has been made due to 'a total failure on Mrs Sacoolas's part to enter into the spirit of attempting to resolve the dispute without having to go to court', Mr Seiger said.

The foreign secretary has supported the parents' complaint by applying to join as an 'amicus curiae', also known as an intervener, which Mr Seiger described as 'extraordinary'.

An FCDO spokesman said: "The foreign secretary continues to support the family and do everything he can to seek justice for Harry."