Mother of Harry Dunn: Sorry doesn’t cut it
Parents of Harry Dunn in America as diplomat’s wife offers apology
Charlotte Charles, the mother of Harry Dunn, rejected an apology from the woman suspected of involvement in his fatal accident, saying, “Sorry doesn’t cut it”. Mr Dunn, 19, died when his motorcycle was hit by a car allegedly driven by Anne Sacoolas, 42, the wife of a US intelligence officer, near RAF Croughton, Northants, on Aug 27. Mrs Sacoolas claimed diplomatic immunity and left Britain and has written a letter expressing her “deepest sympathies”.
THE mother of Harry Dunn has rejected an apology from the woman suspected of involvement in his fatal car accident, saying, “Sorry doesn’t cut it”.
Charlotte Charles made the comments as she flew to the US in a further attempt to secure justice for her son.
Mr Dunn, 19, died when his motorcycle was hit by a car allegedly driven by Anne Sacoolas, 42, the wife of an American intelligence officer based at RAF Croughton, Northants, on Aug 27. Mrs Sacoolas, who claimed diplomatic immunity and left Britain following the accident, has written a letter expressing her “deepest sympathies and apologies” and offering to meet Mr Dunn’s parents.
However, Ms Charles said: “To be perfectly honest, yes, it’s the start of some closure for our family.
“Having said that, as it’s nearly seven weeks now since we lost our boy, sorry just doesn’t cut it.
“But I’m still really open to meeting her, as are the rest of us. I can’t promise what I would or wouldn’t say, but I certainly wouldn’t be aggressive.”
A spokesman for the family said they would only be satisfied if Mrs Sacoolas agreed to return to Britain and face the legal process. The family will initially spend time in New York fulfilling a series of media interviews, before meeting US officials in Washington.
Dominic Raab, the Foreign Secretary, has confirmed in a letter to the family that Mrs Sacoolas no longer has diplomatic immunity now she has left
Britain.
His comments led to speculation that prosecutors might seek to extradite her.
However, legal experts have insisted that if Mrs Sacoolas had diplomatic immunity at the time of the accident, protection from prosecution would still exist if she were to return.
Geoffrey Robertson QC, the family’s barrister, dismissed Mr Raab’s intervention and called on the Government to support the family in bringing a civil case in the US.
He said: “She could be sued for negligence in the US and the Foreign Office should make funds available for the family to do so.
“On the other hand, if Mrs Sacoolas is genuinely contrite, she has the right, no matter how much pressure is placed upon her by the State Department and the CIA, to follow her conscience and come back to Britain to face possible prosecution.”
Northamptonshire Police is expected to hand a file on the accident to prosecutors this week, but legal experts said the thorny issue of diplomatic immunity would need to be resolved before charges can be considered.
Edward Grange, a partner at Corker Binning, who specialises in extradition, said: “In order to apply for extradition the CPS would need to be in a position to charge her and they will not be able to do that if she does have diplomatic immunity.
“It seems highly unlikely that [the US] will accede to any request, but that does not stop us making it.”