US extradition refusal over Harry Dunn is ‘denial of justice’, says PM
THE PRIME Minister has said the refusal to grant an extradition request for the suspect charged in connection with the death of Harry Dunn is a “denial of justice”.
Boris Johnson’s words have been welcomed by the teenager’s mother, Charlotte Charles, who said they are “words that need action behind them”.
Mr Johnson is the latest senior Government figure to criticise the US secretary of state’s decision to reject the request for the return of Anne Sacoolas to the UK – following in the footsteps of the Foreign Secretary and the Home Secretary. Yesterday, the Prime Minister’s spokesman told a Westminster briefing: “We believe that this is a denial of justice and the individual concerned should return to the UK.”
The Prime Minister also “reiterated the need” for Mrs Sacoolas to return to the UK during a phone call with US President
Donald Trump on Friday. Mr Dunn was killed when his motorcycle crashed into a car outside a US military base in Northamptonshire on August 27 last year.
Mrs Sacoolas, 42, the wife of a US intelligence official based at RAF Croughton, was granted diplomatic immunity after the crash, sparking an international controversy.
US secretary of state Mike Pompeo rejected an extradition request by the UK Government for Mrs Sacoolas on Thursday.
Reacting to Mr Johnson’s comments, Mrs Charles said that he needs to “use his power” to put the pressure on Mr Trump and Mr Pompeo to send the suspect back to the UK.
She said: “The fact that he has come out and said that is obviously a good thing but we hope that he can follow this up with actions now.
“He needs to use his power, because he’s the only person with the power to tell Trump and Pompeo that she needs to come back.”
Asked what her message to the Prime Minister would be, Mrs Charles said: “Make the country proud of you. There are a lot of people out there who don’t necessarily have faith in this Government and this is a chance for him to restore a bit of that faith.”