Chance of extraditing death-crash US driver is ‘very low’

ANY possibility of extraditing the American accused of killing motorcyclist Harry Dunn in a collision is ‘very low’, fears Boris Johnson.

The Prime Minister said it was right that the UK had lodged a request for the extradition of Anne Sacoolas.

But he told BBC Breakfast yesterday that sending the US intelligence officer’s wife back to face justice was ‘not what they [the US] do’. Mrs Sacoolas, 42, was charged last month with causing 19-year-old Mr Dunn’s death by dangerous driving outside RAF Croughton in Northamptonshire, where her husband Jonathan was stationed. It was alleged she was driving on the wrong side of the road.

Within days of the August crash, motherof-three Sacoolas flew home to Virginia, claiming diplomatic immunity – triggering the start of a campaign for justice by Harry’s parents Charlotte Charles, 44, and Tim Dunn, 52.

Yesterday the family’s spokesman Radd Seiger said Mr Johnson’s views on the prospects of an extradition were ‘diametrically opposed’ to those of the family of Harry, pictured above.

Mr Seiger added: ‘I do not know what is in the Prime Minister’s mind in making those comments because the parents and I have not yet had the opportunity to sit down and talk with him but we expect to do so within the next few days.

‘Certainly, if he is basing those comments on what is currently emanating from Washington he may well be right.

‘However, the extradition request has now been delivered and therefore the legal process has commenced – Mr Johnson’s officials have been working extremely hard to prepare a thorough and diligent case.’

The Home Office submitted an extradition request for Mrs Sacoolas on Friday.

If the US reject it, Mr Seiger said the family campaign would ‘swing into action deploying a number of measures’ – including the blockading of US air bases. He added: ‘Anne Sacoolas will be coming back to the UK to face justice. Unlike the Prime Minister, there is no doubt in my mind.’

Earlier this month, almost 100 friends and supporters of the Dunn family temporarily blocked the entrance to RAF Croughton in a bid to persuade the US authorities to comply with the extradition process.

The maximum sentence for causing death by dangerous driving is 14 years’ jail.