Teen was killed in crash involving American official’s wife whose political status allowed her to flee the country despite being considered a suspect
AFRIEND of a family fighting to bring a US diplomat’s wife to trial over the death of their teenage son is to stage a concert and auction in Snowdonia to raise funds for their legal battle.
Harry Dunn, 19, from Charlton, Northamptonshire was killed when the motorcycle he was riding was in a collision with a car on August 27 near RAF Croughton.
It is alleged Anne Sacoolas was driving the car on the wrong side of the road, but she left the UK soon after the incident, and as the wife of an American intelligence official, she had diplomatic immunity – a legal protection that means diplomats and their families cannot be arrested or prosecuted for any crime – despite police investigating her as a suspect.
But, according to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), the protection is currently in dispute.
Harry’s parents, Charlotte Charles and Tim Dunn, are raising money to fund a legal battle as they call on Mrs Sacoolas to return to the UK and face trial.
To help their cause, friends and family have launched a GoFundMe page in a bid to raise £75,000 for the Justice For Harry campaign.
Among their friends is Gwynedd woman Heather Wood, 55.
Heather, who lives in Penygroes, Gwynedd, is staging a charity gig and auction next month in the hope of adding thousands of pounds more to the fund.
Ms Wood, a former travel agent who has raised thousands of pounds for charities in the past, said: “I’ve known Harry’s dad, Tim, for decades.
“He’s a lovely man, so when I heard what had happened, I put myself in their shoes and I couldn’t just sit on my hands.
“I wanted to do something to help, so I’m organising a charity event and auction in Snowdonia, and a couple of events down south next month.”
So far, she has secured the Padarn Hotel in Llanberis for the event on Saturday, November 23, in which several local bands, including Ram Ram Ska Band, Dylan Griffiths and Lewgi Lewis, will perform.
Entry will be free, with a request for donations.
Ms Wood, added: “We are still looking for donations for the raffle or to auction. People can contact me at heatherb1964@ icloud.com with any offers of donations.
“Tim and the family are doing well. They’re staying strong for their family; you have to in situations like these.
“This money will not only help them with legal costs in their fight for justice, but it will also help to support the family.
“The family just want closure; they can’t grieve.
“The most important thing is to keep the story as high profile as possible. It can’t be yesterday’s news.”
Harry’s parents flew to the United States on Sunday in a desperate bid to meet with Mrs Sacoolas and hear her explain what happened.
It comes after British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Friday that the US was “absolutely ruthless” in its safeguarding of Mrs Sacoolas following the decision to grant her diplomatic immunity.
Mr Johnson said although US President Donald Trump was sympathetic towards Harry’s family’s views on the use of diplomatic immunity, the US is “very reluctant” to allow citizens to be tried abroad.
So far, more than £57,000 has been raised for the Justice For Harry campaign.