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Britons Demand Return of American Woman Who Fled After Fatal Crash Britons Demand Return of American Woman Who Fled After Fatal Crash
(32 minutes later)
LONDON — The mother of a British teenager who was killed in a crash in August has appealed to President Trump for help after the main suspect in the investigation, an American citizen, left Britain despite telling the police that she had no plans to do so. LONDON — The British authorities are pressing the United States to reconsider its refusal to intervene in an investigation of a crash that killed a teenager after the main suspect, an American citizen who has diplomatic immunity, left Britain despite telling the police that she had no plans to do so.
Harry Dunn, 19, was killed after his motorcycle collided with a car traveling in the opposite direction in Brackley, a town in the East Midlands, on Aug. 27, near R.A.F. Croughton, a Royal Air Force base that is the site of a United States Air Force communication station. Harry Dunn, 19, was killed on Aug. 27 after his motorcycle collided with a car traveling in the opposite direction in Brackley, a town about 60 miles northeast of London that is near R.A.F. Croughton, a Royal Air Force base that is the site of a United States Air Force communication station.
The developments are likely to further strain the so-called special relationship between the two countries, which has already been tested numerous times during Mr. Trump’s presidency, because the driver of the car is reportedly the wife of an American diplomat and has diplomatic immunity. The police have said that the main suspect is a 42-year-old American woman, who was driving on the wrong side of the road when the crash occurred, and that their investigation has been complicated by the fact that she left the country.
The police have said that the main suspect is a 42-year-old American woman, who was driving on the wrong side of the road when the crash occurred, and that their investigation has been complicated by the fact that she has left the country. The developments have prompted a diplomatic tug-of-war, after Britain transmitted a formal request for a waiver of immunity regarding to the United States Embassy in London on Sept. 5 that was declined eight days later.
Britain transmitted a formal request for a waiver of immunity to the United States Embassy in London on Sept. 5, and the request was declined eight days later. The embassy said on Monday that it would not comment on the woman’s identity and that it was unlikely to lift immunity in the case. The embassy said on Monday that it would not comment on the woman’s identity — she is reportedly the wife of an American diplomat, identified in British news reports as Anne Sacoolas, 42 — and that it was unlikely to lift immunity in the case.
The crash and the subsequent investigation hold the potential to further strain the so-called special relationship between the two countries, which has already been tested numerous times during Mr. Trump’s presidency.
Superintendent Sarah Johnson, head of operations for the Northamptonshire police, said in a statement on Saturday that the police had sought documentation “to allow for the arrest and formal interview of the subject.” “Harry Dunn’s family deserves justice, and in order to achieve this, a full and thorough investigation, with the assistance of all parties involved, needs to take place,” she said.Superintendent Sarah Johnson, head of operations for the Northamptonshire police, said in a statement on Saturday that the police had sought documentation “to allow for the arrest and formal interview of the subject.” “Harry Dunn’s family deserves justice, and in order to achieve this, a full and thorough investigation, with the assistance of all parties involved, needs to take place,” she said.
The police are also working closely with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Ms. Johnson said, adding that they were “exploring all opportunities through diplomatic channels” to ensure the investigation’s progress.The police are also working closely with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Ms. Johnson said, adding that they were “exploring all opportunities through diplomatic channels” to ensure the investigation’s progress.
Harry Dunn’s mother, Charlotte Charles, has been pushing to have the American woman’s immunity waived and for her to return to Britain.Harry Dunn’s mother, Charlotte Charles, has been pushing to have the American woman’s immunity waived and for her to return to Britain.
“President Trump, please listen,” Ms. Charles told Sky News, the outlet that first reported on the identity of the 42-year-old woman. “We’re a family in ruin. We’re broken.”“President Trump, please listen,” Ms. Charles told Sky News, the outlet that first reported on the identity of the 42-year-old woman. “We’re a family in ruin. We’re broken.”
“We can’t grieve,” she said, adding of the woman, “Please, please let her get back on a plane.”“We can’t grieve,” she said, adding of the woman, “Please, please let her get back on a plane.”
Though the Foreign Office did not formally confirm the identity of the American woman, Dominic Raab, the foreign secretary, offered his condolences to the victim’s family and released a statement addressing the matter.Though the Foreign Office did not formally confirm the identity of the American woman, Dominic Raab, the foreign secretary, offered his condolences to the victim’s family and released a statement addressing the matter.
“I have called the U.S. ambassador to express the U.K.’s disappointment with their decision, and to urge the embassy to reconsider it,” Mr. Raab said.“I have called the U.S. ambassador to express the U.K.’s disappointment with their decision, and to urge the embassy to reconsider it,” Mr. Raab said.
The United States Embassy said that questions about immunity, which is rarely waived, were discussed at senior levels and that it was in close contact with the British authorities.The United States Embassy said that questions about immunity, which is rarely waived, were discussed at senior levels and that it was in close contact with the British authorities.
After news of the woman’s flight from Britain emerged, the news media, the British government and social media users stepped up pressure on the American government to reconsider her immunity and allow the police to resume questioning her in Britain.After news of the woman’s flight from Britain emerged, the news media, the British government and social media users stepped up pressure on the American government to reconsider her immunity and allow the police to resume questioning her in Britain.
“We have to get proper justice for Harry and closure for his family,” Andrea Leadsom, the secretary of state for business, energy and industrial strategy, wrote on Twitter on Saturday. A day earlier, she had met Harry Dunn’s family, who, she wrote, is “heartbroken.”“We have to get proper justice for Harry and closure for his family,” Andrea Leadsom, the secretary of state for business, energy and industrial strategy, wrote on Twitter on Saturday. A day earlier, she had met Harry Dunn’s family, who, she wrote, is “heartbroken.”
“Harry & his family have been wronged,” Angela Rayner, a member of Parliament for the opposition Labour Party, said in a tweet.“Harry & his family have been wronged,” Angela Rayner, a member of Parliament for the opposition Labour Party, said in a tweet.
Britain and the United States are close allies, although the relationship has been rocky over the past few years, with Mr. Trump needling prominent officials and Britons taking to the streets to demonstrate against the American leader.Britain and the United States are close allies, although the relationship has been rocky over the past few years, with Mr. Trump needling prominent officials and Britons taking to the streets to demonstrate against the American leader.
Mr. Trump has engaged in public spats with Sadiq Khan, the mayor of London and endorsed Boris Johnson as a strong candidate for prime minister while his predecessor, Theresa May, was still in office. Kim Darroch, the British ambassador to the United States, resigned after leaked cables said Mr. Trump was “radiating insecurity” and his administration diplomatically “clumsy and inept.”Mr. Trump has engaged in public spats with Sadiq Khan, the mayor of London and endorsed Boris Johnson as a strong candidate for prime minister while his predecessor, Theresa May, was still in office. Kim Darroch, the British ambassador to the United States, resigned after leaked cables said Mr. Trump was “radiating insecurity” and his administration diplomatically “clumsy and inept.”
Still, Britain must walk a fine line, most notably because it is hoping to sign a trade deal with the United States after it leaves the European Union, a fraught process that is complicated by the fact that the Americans may make demands the British find unacceptable.Still, Britain must walk a fine line, most notably because it is hoping to sign a trade deal with the United States after it leaves the European Union, a fraught process that is complicated by the fact that the Americans may make demands the British find unacceptable.
Robert Singh, a professor of politics at Birkbeck, University of London, who specializes in American foreign policy, said that he cannot recall a more serious immunity dispute between the two countries.Robert Singh, a professor of politics at Birkbeck, University of London, who specializes in American foreign policy, said that he cannot recall a more serious immunity dispute between the two countries.
He said in an email that while the police could visit the suspect in the United States, such a visit would most likely be of limited value. “This merely seems to postpone the moment of reckoning,” he said. “If she is indeed guilty of the crime, as alleged, then there will be immense pressure upon the U.K. government to initiate formal extradition proceedings — which, one would imagine, any U.S. administration (and this one, in particular) will resist.”He said in an email that while the police could visit the suspect in the United States, such a visit would most likely be of limited value. “This merely seems to postpone the moment of reckoning,” he said. “If she is indeed guilty of the crime, as alleged, then there will be immense pressure upon the U.K. government to initiate formal extradition proceedings — which, one would imagine, any U.S. administration (and this one, in particular) will resist.”
The victim’s parents said they would continue fighting to get justice for their son’s death.The victim’s parents said they would continue fighting to get justice for their son’s death.
“We are not going to be swept under the carpet,” Ms. Charles told ITV, a British news channel. “If that becomes his legacy, then we are going to carry on fighting, we’re not going to give up, we’re not going to go away,” she said.“We are not going to be swept under the carpet,” Ms. Charles told ITV, a British news channel. “If that becomes his legacy, then we are going to carry on fighting, we’re not going to give up, we’re not going to go away,” she said.
“We can’t let our son die and nothing be answered for,” said Tim Dunn, his father.“We can’t let our son die and nothing be answered for,” said Tim Dunn, his father.