Harry Dunn: Foreign Secretary Urges US Diplomat's Wife To 'Do The Right Thing' Over Teen's Death

Dominic Raab appeals to Anne Sacoolas to return to UK if charged following 19-year-old's death in head-on collision.
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Foreign secretary Dominic Raab has urged a US diplomat’s wife to return to the UK if she is charged over the killing of teenager Harry Dunn.

The cabinet minister appealed to Anne Sacoolas to “do the right thing” over the 19-year-old’s death.

Harry died when his motorbike and a car collided head-on outside RAF Croughton in Northamptonshire on August 27.

The suspect in the case, 42-year-old Sacoolas, claimed diplomatic immunity after the crash and was able to return to the US.

A file of evidence was handed to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) on November 1 after Northamptonshire Police interviewed Sacoolas in the US.

The CPS has yet to make a decision about whether to charge her.

Harry Dunn
Harry Dunn

Following his meeting with Harry’s family, Raab said: “Earlier today, I had a constructive meeting with Harry Dunn’s family. I appreciate how painful this is for them, and welcomed the chance to address a number of their concerns.

“We are united in our determination to get justice for Harry. The government will do everything it can. I also reaffirmed my commitment to conclude the review of the arrangements at RAF Croughton by the end of the year to ensure they cannot be used in this way again.

“I appeal to Anne Sacoolas herself to do the right thing. If there is a charging decision from the Crown Prosecution Service, I urge her to come back to the United Kingdom and co-operate with the criminal justice process.

“Finally, I want to pay tribute to the tenacity of Harry’s family and friends and their determination to get justice for Harry. We will support them in any way we can.”

Raab has commissioned a review into immunity arrangements for US personnel and their families at the RAF base.

Harry’s father Tim Dunn said his conversation with Raab at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London on Tuesday was more “open” and “friendly” than a meeting held in October.

“This meeting was a lot better. He was more engaging, he came across more honest,” Dunn said.

Harry’s family had sought a further conversation with Raab in a bid to reach “common ground” after being left disappointed by the earlier meeting.

In November, Harry’s father travelled to Raab’s constituency in Esher and Walton to confront him over his handling of the case.

Harry’s mother Charlotte Charles was not present on Tuesday after being left “utterly devastated” by watching footage of Sacoolas reversing out of her driveway in the state of Virginia.

Dunn said the family was “shocked” to see Sacoolas driving, while a spokesperson for the family, Radd Seiger, commented on Raab’s reaction to the footage of her “getting on with her life”.

“Like the rest of us, he just shook his head, none of us can understand it, because it’s inexplicable,” Seiger said.

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