Harry Dunn: US diplomat’s wife Anne Sacoolas could face VIRTUAL trial for killing teenager in crash in UK
ANNE Sacoolas could face a virtual trial over the car crash that killed teenager Harry Dunn, Dominic Raab has said.
The foreign secretary said the path is clear for the UK to push for a form of “virtual trial or process” to provide accountability and justice for the teen’s family.
Harry Dunn died aged 19 in August 2019 when a car driven by Ms Sacoolas crashed into his motorbike outside RAF Croughton in Northamptonshire, which is used by US military personnel.
The aftermath sparked controversy when Sacoolas, who worked at the base for the US State Department, had diplomatic immunity asserted on her behalf - allowing her to flee the UK nine days after the crash.
She has since been charged with causing death by dangerous driving.
Boris Johnson yesterday said US President Joe Biden was "actively engaged" and "extremely sympathetic" about the case following a meeting at the G7 summit in Cornwall.
Mr Raab told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "The US has not agreed to the extradition, but the path is clear for the legal authorities in the UK to approach Anne Sacoolas's lawyers - without any problem from the US government - to see whether some kind of virtual trial or process could allow some accountability and some solace and some justice for the Dunn family.
"I would like to see some accountability. I think the family deserve no less."
Speaking after the meeting of Mr Biden and the PM, Harry's mum Charlotte Charles said: "We are incredibly grateful that Harry's case is being taken so seriously as to be raised on the eve of the G7 meeting with so many worldwide crises going on.
"We very much hope that President Biden takes a different view to the previous administration, given his deeply personal connection to the case, having suffered loss in similar circumstances."
Mr Biden's first wife and daughter were killed in a road crash in 1972, while his sons Beau and Hunter survived.
Ms Charles added: "We are all suffering intensely as a family and really need a resolution as soon as possible and now await to hear from the CPS as to what steps they plan to take next."
After discussing the matter with Mr Biden, Mr Johnson told the BBC: "As you know, he has his own personal reasons for feeling very deeply about the issue.
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"And he was extremely sympathetic, but this is not something that either government can control very easily because there are legal processes that are still going on."
The Dunn family has challenged the diplomatic immunity asserted on Sacoolas's behalf, which will be heard in the Court of Appeal next year.
Ms Charles and Mr Dunn's father Tim Dunn have also brought a civil claim against Sacoolas and her husband in the US state of Virginia.