Friday, 29 Mar 2024

Family to meet foreign secretary after US suspect in fatal crash claims diplomatic immunity

The parents of a teenager killed in a crash are to meet the foreign secretary after the suspect, a US citizen, claimed diplomatic immunity and left the UK.

Harry Dunn, 19, was killed in an accident near RAF Croughton, an American spy base, in Northamptonshire on 27 August – leaving his family “utterly broken”.

Police told Sky News their initial findings show that Harry was riding his motorbike on the correct side of the road, but that a woman, who pulled out of the airbase onto the wrong side of the carriageway, hit him head-on.

On Friday, Sky News revealed that the suspect was the wife of a US diplomat who claimed diplomatic immunity following the incident. Dependants of diplomats can be covered by immunity.

They have launched a crowdfund campaign to fight for justice, with one woman alone already pledging £5,000.

Harry’s mother, Charlotte Charles, told Sky News: “Everyone is saying how heartbroken they are, outraged. It’s a comfort to know that we aren’t fighting it on our own. We are a large family but we are a regular, usual family in the UK. We’re not superhuman.

“The support means an awful lot.”

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab has offered to meet the family and they told Sky News they had accepted his offer – although a date for the meeting has not yet been set.

On Friday the family met their local MP Andrea Leadsom, who released a statement.

Mrs Leadsom, the business secretary, said: “This is an utter tragedy and my heart goes out to the family and friends of Harry Dunn, who rightly want to get the justice he deserves.”

She added: “I have spoken to the foreign secretary and to Stephen Mold, the Northamtonshire police and crime commissioner, who have promised to do everything they can to get justice done.”

Also speaking to Sky News, Nick Thomas-Symonds MP, the shadow security minister, said: “This is a horrendous situation for any parent. My thoughts are with Harry’s friends and family at this terrible time.

“Nobody is above the law. I urge the government to continue to work with the United States Embassy and do all that can be done to seek justice for Harry and his family.”

Ms Charles said: “Everyone loved him, we’re utterly broken inside and out, everything hurts day and night, it’s an effort to do anything, I ache from it, every limb, every internal organ hurts.”

Superintendent Sarah Johnson from Northamptonshire Police said: “We had met with the suspect in the presence of legal advisers in order to identify the best way forward.

“During the course of that meeting we were aware that diplomatic immunity had been raised as an issue, we then made immediate application for a waiver in order for us to undertake further investigations and interview.

“Unfortunately, we were latterly advised that the waiver had been declined and the suspect had left the UK.”

The US embassy has confirmed to Sky News that the woman has left the UK. We understand that someone on the American side told the family to go back to the US.

“This kind of case receives intense attention at senior levels and every case is considered carefully given the global impact such decisions carry,” a US embassy spokesperson said in their latest statement on the matter.

In a statement on Friday, Mr Raab told Sky News: “I wish to offer my condolences to the family affected by this tragic incident.

“I have called the US ambassador to express the UK’s disappointment with their decision, and to urge the embassy to re-consider it.”

The decision has left Harry’s family even more bereft.

“We don’t know how we can start to grieve for him,” Ms Charles said. “We have nothing. No justice. We have nothing to put our minds at rest that she’s even remorseful.”

Harry’s father, Tim Dunn, said: “We’re disgusted, appalled, how she could be having this cloak wrapped around her. I’m angry that someone could do this and then get on a plane and go.

“I can’t believe she’s living with herself.”

Harry’s family received a letter from the US ambassador to the UK, Woody Johnson, expressing “profound sadness”.

Commenting to Sky News earlier, the embassy said: “We express our deepest sympathies and offer condolences to the family of the deceased in the tragic 27 August traffic accident involving a vehicle driven by the spouse of a US diplomat assigned to the United Kingdom.

“Embassy officials are in close contact with the appropriate British officials on this matter. Due to security and privacy considerations, we cannot confirm the identity of the individuals involved, but we can confirm the family has left the UK.”

In a later statement, they added: “Any questions regarding a waiver of the immunity with regard to our diplomats and their family members overseas in a case like this receive intense attention at senior levels and are considered carefully given the global impact such decisions carry; immunity is rarely waived.”

Sky News has tried to contact the woman but she hasn’t responded.

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