NOT IMMUNE
Harry Dunn crash – US diplomat’s wife Anne Sacoolas DOESN’T have immunity after ‘killing teen’ – as mum slams apology
THE US diplomat's wife involved in the car crash which killed teenager Harry Dunn does not have diplomatic immunity, the Foreign Office says.
British cops believe Anne Sacoolas collided with Harry Dunn's motorbike as she drove in her Volvo for 400 yards on the wrong side of the road after leaving RAF Croughton, Northants., in August.
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US diplomat’s wife Anne Sacoolas no longer had diplomatic immunity after ‘killing teen Harry Dunn in car crash’
The suspect, who is reportedly married to a US intelligence official, was granted diplomatic immunity after the crash and flew back to the States.
But Harry's parents, Charlotte Charles and Tim Dunn have now been told she is no longer immune from prosecution in a letter from the Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, .
It reportedly reads: "The question remains when such immunity comes to an end, regardless of any waiver.
"We have looked at this very carefully, as I wanted to be confident in the position before conveying it to you.
"The UK government's position is that immunity, and therefore any question of waiver, is no longer relevant in Mrs Sacoolas' case, because she has returned home.
"The US have now informed us that they too consider that immunity is no longer pertinent."
'I'M OVER THE MOON'
The letter goes on to say the police and the CPS would now take the case forward.
And Tim Dunn said Mr Raab's letter was "excellent news".
He told Sky: "As we've said all along, we believed she didn't have immunity and we always believed it was just incorrect. This means so much to us.
"It doesn't replace not having Harry..we still would rather Harry in our lives and we are still going to America and we will fight to get this law changed.
"We've still got this to do for other people but as of tonight, I'm over the moon...I'm so, so happy."
'MEET AT THE EARLIEST OPPORTUNITY'
Harry's family had appealed to Raab to intervene in the case.
But they were told the US government had twice refused requests for Sacoolas' immunity to be waived and have since flown to the US to pursue justice for their son.
As news broke Sacoolas no longer had immunity, she finally broke her silence and offered to meet with Harry Dunn's family to "express her deepest sympathies and apologies".
But Harry's mum Charlotte Charles, 44, told that "sorry just doesn't cut it" and "that's not really quite enough".
Mum Charlotte had previously described Sacoolas' protection as an "abuse of diplomatic immunity".
Anne Sacoolas issues statement through her lawyers
"Anne is devastated by this tragic accident. No loss compares to the death of a child and Anne extends her deepest sympathy to Harry Dunn's family.
"The media reporting has been inaccurate in many respects. To begin with, Anne fully cooperated with the police and the investigation.
"She spoke with authorities at the scene of the accident and met with the Northampton police at her home the following day. She will continue to cooperate with the investigation.
"Anne would like to meet with Mr Dunn's parents so that she can express her deepest sympathies and apologies for this tragic accident.
"We have been in contact with the family's attorneys and look forward to hearing from them."
CRASH 'BROKE' HIS BODY
Speaking to The Sunday Times, she told how the last time she saw her son alive was when he rode past her on the motorbike as she made her way home from work.
She said: "I put my hand up and I smiled to myself and thought: 'I'll see you in a couple of hours'.
"The next time I saw him was a few hours later. But he was lying dead in the hospital."
Charlotte revealed her tragic son "broke" his body in the devastating crash - but his £700 helmet left his "beautiful" face unscathed.
She has hit out at Sacoolas for fleeing the country without giving answers - and said the nightmare ordeal has affected Harry's twin brother Niall the most.
Charlotte told the newspaper: "It's inhumane. It's not right.
"It's not just a clear-cut case of driving on the wrong side of the road, 'Oops, sorry!' A life has been taken."
The family are today flying to the US to visit both New York and Washington DC to put pressure on the US government to "do the right thing".
Charlotte said: "We're a nice family. We're not out to get her. But we have to keep fighting. We cannot sit back and watch another person a child, a parent, an auntie, an uncle go through this. The pain and suffering is just too much."
IMMUNITY EXPLAINED
THE 1961 Vienna Convention makes foreign diplomats and their families immune from prosecution in their host country.
Those who hold that status cannot be automatically charged with a crime — but immunity can be waived by the state that has sent them following an appeal from the Foreign Office.
The immunity only usually covers those based in London, but a special deal with the US extended that to RAF Croughton.
Northamptonshire Police have now passed a file to the CPS to decide on whether to prosecute her for causing death by dangerous driving.
Downing Street last week said the case was "extremely concerning" and urged the US to "reconsider their position" so "the justice process can take place".
Urging the US to reconsider its decision to give immunity to the diplomat's wife, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: "I do not think it can be right to use the process of diplomatic immunity for this type of purpose."
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