Patel ‘reassures’ Harry’s family
THE family of crash victim Harry Dunn said they were “incredibly reassured” after a visit from Home Secretary Priti Patel yesterday.
The visit raised hopes that US suspect Anne Sacoolas – the wife of a US intelligence officer – could now be extradited after being charged over his death.
Ms Patel sat down with Harry’s dad Tim, just days after the Crown Prosecution Service said it had authorised Northamptonshire Police to charge Mrs Sacoolas, 42.
Harry, 19, died in August after his motorbike was in collision with a car driven by Mrs Sacoolas – who was allegedly on the wrong side of the road – outside RAF Croughton, Northants.
Mrs Sacoolas returned to the United States claiming diplomatic immunity.
But Britain refuses to accept she was entitled to immunity as her husband was not officially credited with his embassy because of his reported intelligence role.
Tim Dunn said it had been a “very positive meeting” with Ms Patel. He said: “She was open, friendly, warm and listened to what we had to say.”
Mr Dunn said that Christmas would be hard without Harry.
He said: “It was his favourite time of year. People have one Christmas jumper, Harry would have four Christmas jumpers, every day he would be wearing one.”
The Home Secretary said she had met the family to explain the process to them. Her department may now request that Mrs Sacoolas is extradited.
Ms Patel said: “It was a nice opportunity to hear from them, obviously about what they have been going through, and to reassure them at what has been a very difficult and traumatic time.” Family spokesman Radd Seiger said they were now “reassured this whole saga will be dealt with under the rule of law”. He added: “They [the family] don’t understand why this woman is still in America.” Business Secretary Andrea Leadsom, the family’s local MP, accompanied Ms Patel on the visit. She said: “I’ve assured the family I will do everything I can to get justice for Harry.”
Harry’s mother Charlotte Charles did not attend the meeting. On Friday, the CPS said Mrs Sacoolas had been charged with death by dangerous driving, which carries a maximum sentence of 14 years in prison.The announcement sparked a war of words between Britain and its key ally, with the US State Department saying any extradition bid “would establish an extraordinarily troubling precedent”.
Following the decision, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said: “I welcome the taking of a charging decision, which is an important step towards justice for Harry and towards solace for his family, but it is not the end.
“I hope that Anne Sacoolas will now realise the right thing to do is to come back to the UK and co-operate with the criminal justice process.”
Harry’s mother described the charge as a “huge step” towards the justice she had promised her son on the night that he died.