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Harry Dunn crash: Mum appeals for US suspect's return Harry Dunn crash: Mum appeals for US suspect's return
(about 1 hour later)
The mother of a teenager killed in a car crash has appealed "as a mum" for a suspect to return to the UK to face questioning by the police. The mother of a teenager killed in a car crash involving the wife of a US diplomat has urged her "as a mum" to return to the UK for questioning.
Harry Dunn, 19, of Charlton, Banbury, was killed when his motorbike crashed with a car near RAF Croughton in Northamptonshire on 27 August. Harry Dunn, 19, died when his motorbike collided with a car near RAF Croughton in Northamptonshire on 27 August.
The wife of a US diplomat left the country after she was made a suspect. The diplomat's wife, who has diplomatic immunity, left the UK despite telling police that she had no plans to.
Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said he had expressed his "disappointment" to the US ambassador about her departure. Mr Dunn's mother, Charlotte Charles, told the BBC the family had been left "utterly devastated" by his death.
The US State Department said it "carefully" considered questions about diplomatic immunity and rarely decided to waive the protection. Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said he has urged the US embassy to reconsider after the State Department said that diplomatic immunity is "rarely waived".
Mrs Charles says she was "utterly devastated" the woman has left the country, and was willing to travel to the US to seek her return. "I have called the US ambassador to express the UK's disappointment with their decision," he said.
Mrs Charles told the BBC's PM programme: "Harry's stepdad, my husband, is a US citizen. A couple of weeks or more after we'd lost Harry we let the police know that Bruce, my husband, was a US citizen, in the hope that that would help matters. Mrs Charles told the BBC's PM programme: "We're really hoping to try to get her back; from me, as a mum, to her, as a mum, you just hope that he [Mr Raab] can try to get through to her.
"We're really hoping to try to get her back; from me, as a mum, to her, as a mum, you just hope that he [Mr Raab] can try to get through to her.
"We don't wish her any ill harm, but we don't understand how she can just get on a plane and leave our family just utterly devastated."We don't wish her any ill harm, but we don't understand how she can just get on a plane and leave our family just utterly devastated.
"If we don't get any luck over here, then we will go over there.""If we don't get any luck over here, then we will go over there."
RAF Croughton is a United States Air Force communications station.
Under the 1961 Vienna Convention, diplomats and their family members are immune from prosecution in their host country, so long as they are not nationals of that country.Under the 1961 Vienna Convention, diplomats and their family members are immune from prosecution in their host country, so long as they are not nationals of that country.
However, their immunity can be waived by the state that has sent them - in this case, the US.However, their immunity can be waived by the state that has sent them - in this case, the US.
Analysis by BBC diplomatic correspondent James LandaleAnalysis by BBC diplomatic correspondent James Landale
There are more than 22,500 people in the UK who hold diplomatic immunity and most do not break the law.There are more than 22,500 people in the UK who hold diplomatic immunity and most do not break the law.
But if a diplomat is guilty of an egregious breach, there are some things that a host country can do.But if a diplomat is guilty of an egregious breach, there are some things that a host country can do.
In a written Parliamentary answer in October 2017, then Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said: "The FCO does not tolerate foreign diplomats breaking the law.In a written Parliamentary answer in October 2017, then Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said: "The FCO does not tolerate foreign diplomats breaking the law.
"When instances of alleged criminal conduct are brought to our attention by the police, we ask the relevant foreign government to waive diplomatic immunity where appropriate."When instances of alleged criminal conduct are brought to our attention by the police, we ask the relevant foreign government to waive diplomatic immunity where appropriate.
"For the most serious offences, and when a relevant waiver has not been granted, we seek the immediate withdrawal of the diplomat.""For the most serious offences, and when a relevant waiver has not been granted, we seek the immediate withdrawal of the diplomat."
The problem here is that the US do not appear to have granted a waiver for this particular diplomatic spouse.The problem here is that the US do not appear to have granted a waiver for this particular diplomatic spouse.
Instead, they have removed her from the UK before the British government could threaten to remove her itself if she did not submit to questioning.Instead, they have removed her from the UK before the British government could threaten to remove her itself if she did not submit to questioning.
As such, the US appears to have calculated that protecting the woman from identification, questioning and possible prosecution was more important than the potential risk to UK-US relations.As such, the US appears to have calculated that protecting the woman from identification, questioning and possible prosecution was more important than the potential risk to UK-US relations.
This is further evidence the adjective "special" should rarely be used to describe the alliance between both countries.This is further evidence the adjective "special" should rarely be used to describe the alliance between both countries.
Supt Sarah Johnson said: "Northamptonshire Police followed all of its usual procedures following the incident, including liaising closely with the suspect, who engaged fully with us at the time and had previously confirmed to us that she had no plans to leave the country in the near future. Supt Sarah Johnson said that the suspect "engaged fully" following the incident near RAF Croughton, a US Air Force communications station, and that she "had previously confirmed... that she had no plans to leave the country in the near future".
"The force is now exploring all opportunities through diplomatic channels to ensure that the investigation continues to progress. "The force is now exploring all opportunities through diplomatic channels to ensure that the investigation continues to progress," she said.
"Harry Dunn's family deserve justice and in order to achieve this, a full and thorough investigation, with the assistance of all parties involved, needs to take place."
Mr Raab said: "I have called the US ambassador to express the UK's disappointment with their decision, and to urge the embassy to reconsider it."
The US Embassy in London confirmed the diplomat's family had left the UK, but it could not confirm the identity of the people involved in the incident "due to security and privacy considerations".The US Embassy in London confirmed the diplomat's family had left the UK, but it could not confirm the identity of the people involved in the incident "due to security and privacy considerations".
The US State Department said: "Any questions regarding a waiver of immunity with regard to our diplomats and their family members overseas in a case like this receive intense attention at senior levels and are considered carefully given the global impact such decisions carry; immunity is rarely waived. The US State Department said it was in "close consultation" with British officials, but could not comment on "private diplomatic conversation" with the British government.
"We cannot speculate on what actions the British Government may take. While we are in close consultation with the appropriate British officials, we cannot comment on private diplomatic conversation with the British government. "We express our deepest sympathies and offer condolences to the family of the deceased in the tragic August 27 traffic accident involving a vehicle driven by the spouse of a U.S. diplomat assigned to the United Kingdom," a spokesperson said.
"Any questions regarding a waiver of immunity with regard to our diplomats and their family members overseas in a case like this receive intense attention at senior levels and are considered carefully given the global impact such decisions carry; immunity is rarely waived."
Andrea Leadsom MP, Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, tweeted that she had met Mr Dunn's family, who she described as "heartbroken".
Angela Rayner MP, shadow secretary of state for education, tweeted that the family have been "wronged".