Boris Johnson called the US “absolutely ruthless” in its safeguarding of Anne Sacoolas, the wife of a US diplomat, from facing investigation over her suspected involvement in a car crash which killed British teenager Harry Dunn.
The prime minister said: “In my experience, America is very, very reluctant to allow its nationals to be tried overseas, and is absolutely ruthless in enforcing the code of diplomatic immunity.
“I must say, I don’t think it was appropriate for that provision to be used in this case.
“I made that point to the president, and he is sympathetic.
“I think we’ve just got to keep working on that and see what we can do to get justice for Harry Dunn and his family.”
The 19-year-old died when his motorbike crashed into a car outside an RAF base on August 27.
Sacoolas has been granted diplomatic immunity, and a photograph of notes recently held by US President Donald Trump revealed the president’s position on the incident: “(If raised) Note, as Secretary Pompeo told Foreign Secretary Raab, that the spouse of the US government employee will not return to the United Kingdom.”
Since the photograph surfaced, Dunn’s mother Charlotte Charles has blasted the president, suggesting his approach to the case has been “beyond any realm of human thinking”.
The suspect, 42-year-old Sacoolas, reportedly married to a US intelligence official, was granted diplomatic immunity following the crash.
The car which crashed into Dunn was thought to have been driving on the wrong side of the road after leaving RAF Croughton in Northamptonshire, a military base used by the US Air Force. Northamptonshire Police have also asked the US to consider waiving Sacoolas’ immunity.
The teenager’s family met with the foreign secretary on Wednesday but said they left the meeting feeling “angry” and “disappointed”, with Charles later saying it seemed like a “publicity stunt” and that they felt “patronised” by Dominic Raab.
In a press conference on Wednesday, Trump said wrong-way driving “happens”, after being asked by Johnson to consider lifting the immunity granted to Sacoolas.
When asked during a press briefing at the White House about the young motorcyclist’s death, Trump said: “The woman was driving on the wrong side of the road, and that can happen. You know, those are the opposite roads, that happens.
“I won’t say it ever happened to me, but it did.
“When you get used to driving on our system and then you’re all of a sudden on the other system where you’re driving – it happens. You have to be careful, very careful.
“So a young man was killed, the person that was driving the automobile has diplomatic immunity, we’re going to speak to her very shortly and see if we can do something where they meet. It was an accident, it was a terrible accident.”
The family of Harry Dunn is flying out to the US on Sunday evening.
In a post on a GoFundMe page set up to support Harry Dunn’s family, the teenager’s parents said: “We are overwhelmed by the generosity and the support from all of you, and want to say thank you again personally from the bottom of our hearts.
“We couldn’t do this without you and value each and everyone of you! The individual comments and personal stories that have been coming into us have touched our hearts and we know that we are not alone.
“We wanted to share with you that on Sunday we will be flying to the US to continue our fight for justice4harry.
“We will be meeting with various news channels to spread our campaign with all of America and ultimately hope that the American government see that it is right to send Anne Sacoolas back to the UK to face our justice system.”