‘Killer’of Harry Dunn faces court – three years on
THE US spy accused of killing motorcyclist Harry Dunn in a collision while driving on the wrong side of the road finally appeared before a UK court yesterday – more than three years after the teenager’s death.
Anne Sacoolas, 45, left the country within three weeks of the 19-year-old’s death after she was granted diplomatic immunity.
A decision to charge her with causing Mr Dunn’s death by dangerous driving was announced three months later, in December 2019, after the Crown Prosecution Service studied the case.
But an extradition request was rejected by the US State Department in January 2020. Mr Dunn’s parents have campaigned for her to face a UK court ever since. The mother of three appeared before Westminster Magistrates Court via video-link from the US. Wearing a blue trouser suit paired with a patterned scarf over her blouse, Sacoolas spoke in a clear voice to give her full name and date of birth.
She sat beside her US lawyer, Amy Jeffress, and her address was given as the lawyer’s office.
During the six-minute hearing, Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring committed the case to the central criminal court – where a plea hearing will be held next month. He told Sacoolas that as matters stood, she would be required to attend that hearing. But the court heard there would be a joint application to the Old Bailey judge from the prosecution and defence for Sacoolas to appear via video-link again.
No indication of plea was given. The Dunn family have said they would not be commenting on the case until the conclusion of criminal proceedings.