CPS confirm they will pursue Harry Dunn’s killer in the States
Immunity rule won’t alter prosecution
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has told the parents of Harry Dunn that it will carry on pursuing his alleged killer, despite the High Court recently ruling that the US citizen did have diplomatic immunity at the time of his death.
Harry was killed in August 2019 when he was struck by a vehicle travelling on the wrong side of the road. Anne Sacoolas admitted being in charge of the vehicle at the time of the collision but fled the country having claimed diplomatic immunity. Regardless of this setback, the CPS charged Sacoolas with causing the teenage motorcyclist’s death by dangerous driving and began extradition proceedings. Despite this meeting the American requirements for extradition, the US government has twice refused extradition and described its ruling as final.
The family had sought to have Sacoolas’ diplomatic immunity overturned in court, however the family was dealt a blow in November when the High Court ruled Sacoolas did in fact have immunity at the time. The family have subsequently appealed, with their hearing in the Court of Appeal expected to begin in the summer. Independent of the on-going legal wrangling over Sacoolas’ immunity, Janine Smith, Chief prosecutor for the East Midlands, has written to the Dunn family recently saying she
‘Sacoolas should return to the UK to stand trial’
was “satisfied that there remains sufficient evidence for a realistic prospect of conviction”.
She also added that the CPS “remains of the view that Mrs Sacoolas should return to the UK to stand trial”.