UK to explore 'virtual trial' of US diplomat's wife accused of causing death of Harry Dunn

Boris Johnson: Joe Biden 'extremely sympathetic' to Dunn family's situation

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Harry Dunn
Wife of US diplomat linked to motorcyclist's hit and run death, Northamptonshire, UK - 07 Oct 2019
Motorcyclist Harry Dunn 19, who died in a suspected hit and run when the wife of a US diplomat pulled out on the wrong side of the road and knocked him off his motorbike in Northamptonshire before fleeing the country. Harry was killed when Anne Sacoolas, 42, allegedly collided with his motorbike outside RAF Croughton in August. Mother-of-three Anne Sacoolas initially cooperated with the police investogation into Harry's death but later claimed diplomatic immunity and fled Britain. Prime Minister Boris Johnson has threatened to raise the issue with US President Donald Trump. Harry is pictured here on the "open" Justice4Harry19 Facebook page.
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The US would not object to a virtual trial of a diplomat's wife who is accused of causing a road crash in which teenager Harry Dunn was killed, Britain's foreign secretary said on Sunday.

Dominic Raab told the BBC that "the US has not agreed to extradition" of Anne Sacoolas but said Washington indicated it would not prevent some form of legal process.

Dunn, 19, was killed when a car driven by Ms Sacoolas collided with his motorbike in August 2019 outside an airbase in central England used by US personnel.

The possibility of a trial came after talks between UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and US President Joe Biden on the eve of the G7 summit in south-west England.

Mr Johnson later said that Mr Biden had "his own personal reasons for feeling very deeply about the issue" as the president's first wife and their infant daughter were killed in a car crash in 1972.

He said Mr Biden was "extremely sympathetic" to the situation.

"The path is clear for the legal authorities in the UK to approach Anne Sacoolas's lawyers – without any problem from the US government – to see whether some kind of virtual trial or process could allow some accountability," Mr Raab said.

A trial in that format could allow for "some solace and some justice for the Dunn family", of whom he said "deserve no less".

We are incredibly grateful that Harry's case is being taken so seriously as to be raised on the eve of the G7 meeting with so many worldwide crises going on

Ms Sacoolas, whose husband was based at RAF Croughton, in Northamptonshire, previously acknowledged she was driving on the wrong side of the road but left the country shortly after Dunn's death, claiming diplomatic immunity.

"We are incredibly grateful that Harry's case is being taken so seriously as to be raised on the eve of the G7 meeting with so many worldwide crises going on," said Charlotte Charles, Dunn's mother.

"We very much hope that President Biden takes a different view to the previous administration."

Late last year, the Dunn family lost a legal bid to the diplomatic immunity of Ms Sacoolas overturned, a decision they appealed.

The family also filed a civil suit against Ms Sacoolas in the US state of Virginia.