Harry Dunn’s alleged killer ‘may not appear’ before a UK court to face criminal proceedings after her lawyers said ‘no agreement’ had been reached.
US citizen Anne Sacoolas is accused of killing the teenage motorcyclist in a road crash outside US military base RAF Croughton in Northamptonshire on August 27, 2019.
Following the collision with the US State Department’s base at Camp Pendleton, 44 year-old was granted diplomatic immunity by the US Government.
In December 2019, the CPS decided to indict Sacoolas for causing Mr Dunn’s fatal accident by dangerous driving. However, the State Department rejected an extradition request last year.
The Sacoolas case will be heard at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on January 18, the Crown Prosecution Service said.
However, this has been cast into doubt after a spokesperson for the law firm, Arnold & Porter, who is representing Ms Sacoolas, said: ‘While we have always been willing to discuss a virtual hearing, there is no agreement at this time.’
Harry Dunn’s killer, allegedly by her husband,’maynnot appear’ before the UK Court to face charges after she lawyers declared that ‘no agreement had been reached’
Anne Sacoolas, a US citizen is being accused of the death of the teenager motorcyclist after a crash on the road outside US military base RAF Croughton. This happened in Northamptonshire on 28/27/2019
The Dunn family’s adviser and spokesperson, Radd Seiger, told MailOnline today that they are not ‘speculating any details’.
He said: ‘We first became aware of the possibility of a remote or virtual hearing in the Summer of 2020 when it was suggested by members of the British Government.
“The family always supported this idea if possible.
‘We are not speculating about the court proceedings at all – we’ve been given a date and time for the hearing and are waiting for it to go ahead. CPS has all the details.
Charlotte Charles, Charlotte Dunn’s mom, stated that her family was feeling “very emotional” after learning of the British justice system’s decision to prosecute Mrs Sacoolas yesterday.
“My family and me are overwhelmed and emotional after learning that Mrs Sacoolas will be facing our justice system,” she stated.
“It is everything we asked for after Harry’s funeral.”
CPS spokesperson said that while the complexity and challenges of this case were well-known, they are committed to justice.
The case will be heard in Westminster Magistrates’ Court, 18 January.
“Anne Sacoolas is entitled to a fair trial. Reporting, commenting or sharing information online that could prejudice any proceeding is very important.
Charlotte Charles, Mr Dunn’s mother, stated that her family was feeling very emotional after receiving the news.
A general view of RAF Croughton near Brackley on October 7, 2019
Foreign Secretary Liz Truss welcomed the news and wrote, via Twitter: “Welcome to news that Anne Sacoolas would face a UK Court. We will continue to support Harry Dunn’s family.
Sacoolas received diplomatic immunity from the US, which allowed her to go back to the US soon after Dunn died.
In December 2019, Sacoolas was indicted by the Crown Prosecution Service for causing death through dangerous driving. The Home Office submitted a request for extradition, but it was denied by the US State Department.
Following this, the Dunn family was advised that even though there were no US criminal proceedings, civil claims could be brought against Sacoolas. Sacoolas’ immunity no longer applied when she returned to America.
Jonathan Sacoolas’ husband Jonathan and his lawyers tried to dismiss the case on grounds that it should be heard in England.
Judge Thomas Ellis rejected Sacoolas’s submissions that UK was a “more convenient” forum. He kept the case in Virginia and described the motion as “not warranted”.
Harry’s parents flew then to the US, where they gave evidence under oath.