THE US diplomat’s wife involved in a hit-and-run that killed Harry Dunn does not have diplomatic immunity, the Foreign Office says.
British cops believe Anne Sacoolas collided with Harry’s motorbike in her Volvo as she drove for 400 yards on the wrong side of the road after leaving RAF Croughton, Northants., in August.
The suspect, who is reportedly married to a US intelligence official, was granted diplomatic immunity after the crash and flew back to the States.
But Harry’s parents, Charlotte Charles and Tim Dunn have now been told this is not the case in a letter from the Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab.
It reads: “The question remains when such immunity comes to an end, regardless of any waiver.
“We have looked at this very carefully, as I wanted to be confident in the position before conveying it to you.
Harry’s family had appealed to Raab to intervene in the case, but were told the US government had twice refused requests for Sacoolas‘ immunity to be waived.
‘MEET AT THE EARLIEST OPPORTUNITY’
They have since flown to the US to pursue justice for their son – and appear to have now had a minor breakthrough.
The Dunn family’s spokesperson Radd Seiger said on Saturday: “I have had a brief conversation with the legal representatives appointed on behalf of Anne Sacoolas and we have agreed to meet at the earliest opportunity.”
Mum Charlotte Charles had previously described Sacoolas’ protection as an “abuse of diplomatic immunity”.
IMMUNITY EXPLAINED
THE 1961 Vienna Convention makes foreign diplomats and their families immune from prosecution in their host country.
Those who hold that status cannot be automatically charged with a crime — but immunity can be waived by the state that has sent them following an appeal from the Foreign Office.
The immunity only usually covers those based in London, but a special deal with the US extended that to RAF Croughton.
In an interview with the BBC, devastated Charlotte said she wanted to grieve but felt in limbo with police unable to properly investigate the tragedy.
She said: “We don’t want it to have to come to that. We just want to talk with her.
“We don’t understand how you can just get on a plane and leave behind the devastation she has without even facing us, or an apology of any kind.”
Northamptonshire Police have now passed a file to the CPS to decide on whether to prosecute her for causing death by dangerous driving.
MOST READ NEWS
Downing Street last week said the case was “extremely concerning” and urged the US to “reconsider their position” so “the justice process can take place”.
Urging the US to reconsider its decision to give immunity to the diplomat’s wife, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: “I do not think it can be right to use the process of diplomatic immunity for this type of purpose.”
