Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Tell us what happened in the final moments of our son Harry’s life
THE distraught parents of Harry Dunn flew in to the US last night in their bid to discover the exact circumstances surrounding his death.
Charlotte Charles and Tim Dunn want to secure a meeting with Anne Sacoolas, the US spy’s wife involved in the crash that killed 19-year-old Harry.
Mark Stephens, a lawyer who is advising Harry’s parents in Britain, said: “The family’s preference now is for a private meeting with Sacoolas to discover what happened and to secure some kind of emotional closure.
“It must be a meeting without spin doctors – a personal meeting... so the family can find out what happened in the final moments of their son’s life.”
Harry was killed when his motorbike and a car were in collision outside RAF Croughton, Northants, on August 27.
Mrs Sacoolas, who had been in the UK a few weeks, was involved in the crash. It has been alleged she may have been driving on the wrong side of the road.
She has since fled Britain and is at the centre of a diplomatic immunity row.
Harry’s mum said last night she is “hopeful” of meeting Mrs Sacoolas who has broken six weeks of silence by issuing a statement saying she wants to see Harry’s parents to “express her longer relevant as she has gone back to the US. Charlotte, 44, said the letter was a “breakthrough”. Her former partner Tim, 50, said he was “shocked, but hopeful” something can come of it.
US President Donald Trump insisted last week that Mrs Sacoolas would not have to return to Britain for questioning.
Her legal team said she spoke with authorities at the scene of the crash and met police at her home in the UK the next day. Her lawyer Amy Jeffress added Mrs Sacoolas will “continue to co-operate with the investigation”.
The Mirror understands police here hope Mrs Sacoolas voluntarily decides to return to Britain for questioning.
They are exploring other options with the Crown Prosecution Service and the Foreign Office.
Northants police said: “Our investigation continues at pace. We remain committed to getting Harry and his family justice and we are doing everything to ensure a full investigation – with the assistance of all parties involved – takes place for this to be achieved.”
Home Secretary Priti Patel has played down suggestions Mrs Sacoolas, who is from Virginia, will be extradited.