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Harry Dunn: PM ready to raise Anne Sacoolas case with White House Harry Dunn: PM ready to raise Anne Sacoolas case with White House
(32 minutes later)
Boris Johnson said he is prepared to hold talks with the White House over the decision to give immunity to a US diplomat’s wife wanted by police in relation to a fatal car crash. Boris Johnson has said he is prepared to hold talks with the White House over the decision to give immunity to a US diplomat’s wife wanted by police in relation to a fatal car crash.
The US has been urged by the prime minister to “reconsider its decision” to grant immunity to Anne Sacoolas, 42, who is being treated as a suspect after the collision that led to the death of Harry Dunn. The US has been urged by the prime minister to “reconsider its decision” to grant diplomatic immunity to Anne Sacoolas, 42, who is being treated as a suspect after the collision that led to the death of Harry Dunn.
How does diplomatic immunity work?
Dunn, 19, of Charlton, Banbury, was killed on 27 August after his motorbike collided with a car close to RAF Croughton in Northamptonshire, a military base used by the US air force.Dunn, 19, of Charlton, Banbury, was killed on 27 August after his motorbike collided with a car close to RAF Croughton in Northamptonshire, a military base used by the US air force.
Police disclosed on Saturday that Sacoolas has left the UK despite telling officers she intended to remain in the UK. Police disclosed on Saturday that Sacoolas had left the UK despite telling officers she intended to remain in the UK.
Police have written to the US embassy in London to demand immunity is waived for Sacoolas in order for their investigation to continue. Police have written to the US embassy in London to demand that immunity be waived for Sacoolas in order for their investigation to continue.
Johnson said he would raise the issue with the White House if necessary. He said: “I do not think it can be right to use the process of diplomatic immunity for this type of purpose.”Johnson said he would raise the issue with the White House if necessary. He said: “I do not think it can be right to use the process of diplomatic immunity for this type of purpose.”
Speaking to reporters during a visit to a hospital in Watford, he added: “I think everybody’s sympathies are very much with the family of Harry Dunn and our condolences to them for their tragic loss.”Speaking to reporters during a visit to a hospital in Watford, he added: “I think everybody’s sympathies are very much with the family of Harry Dunn and our condolences to them for their tragic loss.”
The PM continued that he hoped Sacoolas would come back and “engage properly with the processes of law as they are carried out in this country. The prime minister added that he hoped Sacoolas would come back and “engage properly with the processes of law as they are carried out in this country.
“That’s a point that we’ve raised or are raising today with the American ambassador here in the UK and I hope it will be resolved very shortly.“That’s a point that we’ve raised or are raising today with the American ambassador here in the UK and I hope it will be resolved very shortly.
“And to anticipate a question you might want to raise, if we can’t resolve it then of course I will be raising it myself personally with the White House.”“And to anticipate a question you might want to raise, if we can’t resolve it then of course I will be raising it myself personally with the White House.”
The prime minister’s official spokesman said discussions about the case had been held between foreign secretary Dominic Raab and the US ambassador Woody Johnson and the details were “extremely concerning”. The prime minister’s official spokesman said discussions about the case had been held between the foreign secretary, Dominic Raab, and the US ambassador, Woody Johnson, and the details were “extremely concerning”.
“The justice process should be allowed to take place and we urge the US to reconsider their decision,” the spokesman added.“The justice process should be allowed to take place and we urge the US to reconsider their decision,” the spokesman added.
It comes as the parents of Dunn said they were prepared to travel to Washington to meet Donald Trump about waiving Sacoolas’s diplomatic immunity. The pledge comes as Dunn’s parents said they were prepared to travel to Washington to meet Donald Trump about waiving Sacoolas’s diplomatic immunity.
Dunn’s mother, Charlotte Charles, said if the diplomatic waiver was declined then funds raised by friends and family would be used to travel to see the president.Dunn’s mother, Charlotte Charles, said if the diplomatic waiver was declined then funds raised by friends and family would be used to travel to see the president.
Charles said it was a “dishonourable thing to do” for Sacoolas to leave the UK while she remains a suspect. Charles said it was a “dishonourable thing to do” for Sacoolas to leave the UK while she remained a suspect.
She told BBC Radio 5 Live: “We will go and see President Trump. We will ask him to waive it; we will ask him directly.She told BBC Radio 5 Live: “We will go and see President Trump. We will ask him to waive it; we will ask him directly.
“We will do what we can to bring her back.”“We will do what we can to bring her back.”
Nick Adderley, chief constable for Northamptonshire police, said US authorities had been appealed to in “the strongest terms” to apply a waiver and “allow the justice process to take place”.Nick Adderley, chief constable for Northamptonshire police, said US authorities had been appealed to in “the strongest terms” to apply a waiver and “allow the justice process to take place”.
Adderley confirmed he and Stephen Mold, police fire and crime commissioner for Northamptonshire, had contacted the embassy asking for immunity to be waived.Adderley confirmed he and Stephen Mold, police fire and crime commissioner for Northamptonshire, had contacted the embassy asking for immunity to be waived.
Dunn’s father, Tim Dunn, said the family wanted to get to the truth in order to move forward.Dunn’s father, Tim Dunn, said the family wanted to get to the truth in order to move forward.
He added: “We can’t grieve for him at the minute, we are unaware where we are going.”He added: “We can’t grieve for him at the minute, we are unaware where we are going.”
Charles said they learned that Sacoolas had absconded after their son’s funeral. Charles said they learned that Sacoolas had left the UK after their son’s funeral.
She said: “He was part of the gel that put us together. Now we are just broken inside and out.She said: “He was part of the gel that put us together. Now we are just broken inside and out.
“Everything hurts everyday. We know we can’t bring him back but we need to do something to make sure it doesn’t happen again.” “Everything hurts every day. We know we can’t bring him back but we need to do something to make sure it doesn’t happen again.”
UK news The US State Department told the BBC diplomatic immunity was “rarely waived”.
Boris JohnsonBoris Johnson
Foreign policyForeign policy
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