The family at the centre of a row over diplomatic immunity have released a plea for witnesses who may have seen the US suspect leave the country.
Charlotte Charles and Tim Dunn, parents of 19-year-old Harry Dunn who died who died when his motorbike crashed into a car outside an RAF base in Northamptonshire on August 27, released the appeal on Saturday morning.
The suspect, 42-year-old Anne Sacoolas, is reported to be the wife of a US intelligence official and was granted diplomatic immunity following the crash.
Police have said she told officers she had no plans to leave the UK, however she allegedly left the country on a private flight from the base after becoming a suspect in the investigation.
It is alleged that Sacoolas was driving on the wrong side of the road when Harry was killed, a mistake which Donald Trump appeared to defend during a White House press briefing.
Harry’s parents have now decided to take their fight to the US, and have said they will visit both New York and Washington DC to gain support from Americans and “put pressure on the US administration to do the right thing”.
Before travelling to New York City, the spokesman and adviser to Harry’s family, Radd Seiger, said they would like to launch a direct appeal to anyone who saw Sacoolas leave the UK.
He said: “Anne Sacoolas left England to return to the USA following the road traffic collision outside RAF Croughton on August 27.
“The United States government has claimed she has the benefit of diplomatic immunity and has refused to grant the waiver sought by the British government.
“I would urge anyone, on either side of the Atlantic, who has any information relating to Mrs Sacoolas’s return to the United States, whether before, during, or after her departure, to please come forward.”
On Friday, the prime minister said America had been “absolutely ruthless” in its safeguarding of Sacoolas following the decision to grant her diplomatic immunity.
Boris Johnson said although Trump was sympathetic towards Harry’s family’s views on the use of diplomatic immunity, the US are “very reluctant” to allow citizens to be tried abroad.
Harry’s family said they “continue to live in a nightmare”, and have been unable to start the grieving process.
A statement released on behalf of the family ahead of their trip to the US said: “As if losing Harry was not enough, they now find themselves having to expend enormous time and energy, which they can ill afford, generating sufficient publicity to garner public support to persuade the US government to help achieve closure and return the driver Mrs Sacoolas to England to face the consequences of her actions.
“Sadly, all such efforts to date have failed. The parents, after a brief period of rest, are therefore now taking their campaign to the USA and will visit New York City and Washington DC over the coming days, engaging with the media and politicians as they reach out for support from all Americans and to ask them to put pressure on the US administration to do the right thing.”
The spokesperson added that the family were “looking forward to making as many new friends as possible” in the US, stating that the teenager’s devastated parents “will not simply leave matters where they are and will do whatever it takes, including taking legal action if necessary, to secure justice for Harry.”
a mistake which Donald Trump appeared to defend during a press briefing.
Harry’s parents have now decided to take their fight to the US, and have said they will visit both New York and Washington DC to gain support from Americans and “put pressure on the US administration to do the right thing”.
Before travelling to New York City, the spokesman and adviser to Harry’s family, Radd Seiger, said they would like to launch a direct appeal to anyone who saw Sacoolas leave the UK.
He said: “Anne Sacoolas left England to return to the USA following the road traffic collision outside RAF Croughton on August 27.
“The United States government has claimed she has the benefit of diplomatic immunity and has refused to grant the waiver sought by the British government.
“I would urge anyone, on either side of the Atlantic, who has any information relating to Mrs Sacoolas’s return to the United States, whether before, during, or after her departure, to please come forward.”
On Friday, the prime minister said America had been “absolutely ruthless” in its safeguarding of Sacoolas following the decision to grant her diplomatic immunity.
Boris Johnson said although Trump was sympathetic towards Harry’s family’s views on the use of diplomatic immunity, the US are “very reluctant” to allow citizens to be tried abroad.
Harry’s family said they “continue to live in a nightmare”, and have been unable to start the grieving process.
A statement released on behalf of the family ahead of their trip to the US said: “As if losing Harry was not enough, they now find themselves having to expend enormous time and energy, which they can ill afford, generating sufficient publicity to garner public support to persuade the US government to help achieve closure and return the driver Mrs Sacoolas to England to face the consequences of her actions.
“Sadly, all such efforts to date have failed. The parents, after a brief period of rest, are therefore now taking their campaign to the USA and will visit New York City and Washington DC over the coming days, engaging with the media and politicians as they reach out for support from all Americans and to ask them to put pressure on the US administration to do the right thing.”
The spokesperson added that the family were “looking forward to making as many new friends as possible” in the US, stating that the teenager’s devastated parents “will not simply leave matters where they are and will do whatever it takes, including taking legal action if necessary, to secure justice for Harry.”