Diplomatic immunity

[Skeletor]

Ridiculous.

US diplomat's wife suspected of involvement in fatal road crash has left UK

The parents of a teenager who was killed in a head-on collision say they are "utterly broken" after the suspect, a US citizen, claimed diplomatic immunity and left the country.

Harry Dunn, 19, was killed in an accident near RAF Croughton in Northamptonshire on 27 August. It is an American spy base.

Police told Sky News that 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. He suffered multiple injuries and died later in hospital.

Sky News can reveal that the suspect is the wife of a US diplomat who claimed diplomatic immunity following the incident. Dependants of diplomats can be covered by immunity.

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.

https://news.sky.com/story/us-diplomats-wife-suspected-of-involvement-in-fatal-road-crash-left-uk-11827518

[IroNat]

That's how it works.

Perhaps in this case there can be action in other courts.

[Skeletor]

BS.

Harry Dunn: US rejects UK extradition request

The US has turned down an extradition request for one of its citizens to be charged over the death of motorcyclist Harry Dunn, a family spokesman said.

Mr Dunn, 19, died after a crash in Northamptonshire in August which led to the suspect, Anne Sacoolas, leaving for the US under diplomatic immunity.

The Home Office started extradition proceedings on charges of causing the death by dangerous driving.

Spokesman Radd Seiger said "the fight goes on" for Mr Dunn's family.

He said the US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo turned down the extradition request, which the family's constituency MP Andrea Leadsom informed them about.

Mr Dunn's family said they would react fully to the news on Friday morning, adding "the fight goes on" for justice for their son.

Ms Leadsom is due to meet the US ambassador Woody Johnson in London on Friday to discuss the case.

When the Home Office started extradition proceedings the US State Department said the request would be "highly inappropriate".

It insisted Ms Sacoolas' status at the time of the crash meant she had diplomatic immunity.

Prime minister Boris Johnson previously said the chance of the suspect ever returning to the UK was very low.

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-northamptonshire-51228262

[IroNat]

Perhaps Harry and Meghan can intercede.

[Skeletor]

Travesty.

Harry Dunn: US government bid to keep Anne Sacoolas’s job secret for ‘national security’

The US government has urged civil courts in Virginia to keep secret the employment details of the woman accused of killing teenager Harry Dunn, in the interests of “national security”.

The teenager was killed in a fatal crash outside RAF Croughton in Northamptonshire in August 2019.

Ms Sacoolas, who was driving the vehicle that collided with Mr Dunn, left the UK after the US government asserted diplomatic immunity on her behalf.

The Crown Prosecution Service later charged Ms Sacoolas with causing death by dangerous driving, but the extradition request submitted by the Home Office was rejected by the US State Department last January.

Ahead of Ms Sacooolas’s deposition next month, lawyers acting on behalf of the US government filed a proposed “protective order” around the details of the couple’s employment, due to “national security” concerns.

The motion said: “Although defendants were employees of the United States government at the time [of the crash], information concerning the United States government has little to no relevance to an adjudication of any remaining issues in this case.

“In general terms, the United States seeks protection … because of the impact the disclosure of information regarding the government in this litigation could reasonably be expected to have on national security.

“The United States respectfully requests that this court enter a protective order following discovery or disclosure of information in this civil action implicating the United States government that is in any way, either directly or indirectly, related to the defendants’ or any other individuals’ employment with the United States government.”

To date, the damages claim has uncovered a significant amount of previously unknown material, including the fact that Ms Sacoolas and her husband both held roles at the State Department at the time of the crash. Virginia’s Alexandria District Court heard that the couple’s work in intelligence was a “factor” in their departure from the UK, and that the pair left the country for “security reasons”.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/dunn-us-government-national-security-b1889807.html