The Daily Telegraph

Government knew Harry Dunn suspect was leaving UK

- By Jamie Johnson and Jack Hardy

THE UK government was warned by the US embassy that the suspect in the crash which killed Harry Dunn was to leave the country.

Mr Dunn, 19, was killed when his motorbike collided with a car near RAF Croughton, Northants, on Aug 27. Anne Sacoolas, the wife of an American diplomat, has admitted to driving on the wrong side of the road and hitting the teenager, but she returned to the US and has refused to come back.

Dominic Raab, the Foreign Secretary, told the Commons last night that the US embassy alerted them to Ms Sacoolas’s “imminent” departure “unless the UK had strong objections” on Sept 13. Police were unable to arrest Ms Sacoolas

as the US had not waived her diplomatic immunity.

“We duly and immediatel­y objected in clear and strong terms and we have done ever since,” said Mr Raab.

When the Foreign Office followed up on Sept 16, the embassy said Ms Sacoolas had returned to the US.

Mr Dunn’s family spokesman said the revelation “added insult to injury”.

The Foreign Secretary said the case had been raised at “every level” in the US, including with Donald Trump.

In a statement, Mr Raab said: “I have already commission­ed a review of the immunity arrangemen­ts of US personnel and their families at the Croughton annex … I do not believe the current arrangemen­ts are right and the review will look at how we can make sure they … cannot be used in this way again.” Mr Raab said diplomatic immunity for Ms Sacoolas has “clearly ended”.

“There are no barriers to justice being done,” in Harry’s case he added.

Harry’s parents were due to meet Northampto­nshire Chief Const Nick Adderley tomorrow but cancelled because they felt he was only able to offer condolence­s rather than solutions.

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