Virtual trial is closer in Harry death crash case
BRITAIN is set to pursue a virtual trial over the death of Harry Dunn, who was killed when a car crashed into his motorbike outside a US military base in Northamptonshire.
Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said that while the US has blocked the extradition of diplomat’s wife Anne Sacoolas to face charges stemming from the collision, the path is now clear for the UK to push for a form of “virtual trial or process” to provide accountability.
It comes after Prime Minister Boris Johnson said US President Joe Biden is “actively engaged” and “extremely sympathetic” about the case, following their first meeting prior to the G7 summit.
Mr Raab also told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “The US has not agreed to the extradition but the path is clear for the legal authorities in the UK to approach Anne Sacoolas’s lawyers – without any problem from the US government – to see whether some kind of virtual trial or process could allow some
accountability, and some solace and some justice for the Dunn family. I think the family deserve no less.”
Harry died aged 19 in August 2019 when a car crashed into his motorbike outside RAF Croughton, a base used by US personnel.
The aftermath sparked an international controversy when Sacoolas, who worked at the base for the US State Department, had diplomatic immunity asserted on her behalf.this allowed her to leave the UK nine days after the crash.
She has since been charged with causing death by dangerous driving.
Speaking after the two leaders met, Harry’s mother Charlotte Charles said: “We are incredibly grateful that Harry’s case is being taken so seriously as to be raised on the eve of the G7 meeting with so many worldwide crises going on.
“We very much hope President Biden takes a different view to the previous administration, given his deeply personal connection to the case, having suffered loss in similar circumstances.” Mr Biden’s first wife Neilia and his daughter Naomi were killed in a car crash in 1972.
Ms Charles added: “We are all suffering intensely as a family and really need a resolution as soon as possible.we now wait to hear from the CPS as to what steps they plan to take next.
“It is almost two years since we lost Harry and it would be lovely to think that all parties can now come together to help bring this living nightmare to an end.”
After the meeting with Mr Biden, Mr Johnson said: “As you know, he has his own personal reasons for feeling very deeply about the issue.
“He was extremely sympathetic but this is not something that either government can control very easily because there are legal processes that are still going on.”
The Dunn family has challenged the diplomatic immunity asserted on Sacoolas’s behalf, which will be heard in the Court of Appeal next year. A civil claim has also been brought against Sacoolas and her husband in the US state ofvirginia.