Court rejects evidence plea by Harry Dunn’s parents over ‘secret US deal’

THE HIGH Court has refused an application by Harry Dunn’s parents for the Foreign Office to disclose evidence relating to a “secret agreement” between the UK and US governments which is said to have given diplomatic immunity to their son’s alleged killer.

Charlotte Charles and Tim Dunn are bringing legal action against Foreign Secretary Dominic

Raab and Northamptonshire Police, claiming they acted unlawfully over the departure of Anne Sacoolas from the UK.

Mr Dunn, 19, inset, was killed in August last year when his motorbike crashed into a Volvo driving on the wrong side of the road outside RAF Croughton in Northamptonshire.

Sacoolas, whose husband Jonathan Sacoolas worked as a technical assistant at the base, claimed diplomatic immunity following the crash and was able to return to the US.

The 42-year-old was charged with causing death by dangerous driving in December but an extradition request was refused by the US the following month.

Mr Dunn’s parents argue that the Foreign Office “acted unlawfully by proceeding as if Anne Sacoolas conclusively had immunity and/or advising other state bodies that she did”, which they say prevented Northamptonshire Police “from reaching an informed view as to the immunity issue”.

Following a preliminary hearing, conducted remotely by video call, Lord Justice Flaux and Mr Justice Saini rejected the application for the Foreign Office to disclose further evidence ahead of a full hearing.

Lord Justice Flaux said: “We do not consider that any of the documents sought is necessary for the fair and just determination of the issues in the case, so that application is refused.”

The court also refused an application to rely on expert evidence from Sir Ivor Roberts, a “distinguished diplomat”.

Asked if the refusal of the application for further disclosure documents affected the family’s case, their spokesman Radd Seiger told the PA news agency: “It doesn’t affect the parents’ case against either the police or Dominic Raab at all.”

He said the decisions by the Foreign Office after Harry’s death “should not have been made”.