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Harry Dunn's parents reject Trump offer to meet suspect at White House | |
(32 minutes later) | |
Harry Dunn's parents have rejected the chance to meet the suspect in their son's crash death at the White House. | Harry Dunn's parents have rejected the chance to meet the suspect in their son's crash death at the White House. |
Anne Sacoolas, 42, returned to the United States days after the crash which killed 19-year-old Harry. | Anne Sacoolas, 42, returned to the United States days after the crash which killed 19-year-old Harry. |
Harry's parents Charlotte Charles and Tim Dunn met US President Donald Trump at the White House, and he revealed Mrs Sacoolas was in a room next door. | Harry's parents Charlotte Charles and Tim Dunn met US President Donald Trump at the White House, and he revealed Mrs Sacoolas was in a room next door. |
But they declined to meet her, with a family spokesman saying they felt "a little ambushed" by the offer. | But they declined to meet her, with a family spokesman saying they felt "a little ambushed" by the offer. |
The president said Mrs Sacoolas was in an adjoining room but they refused to see her, saying the conditions were not right. | The president said Mrs Sacoolas was in an adjoining room but they refused to see her, saying the conditions were not right. |
Mr Trump was sympathetic but did not agree to Mrs Sacoolas' UK return, Harry's parents said. | Mr Trump was sympathetic but did not agree to Mrs Sacoolas' UK return, Harry's parents said. |
Family spokesman Radd Seiger described the White House meeting as "absolutely extraordinary" and "unprecedented". | Family spokesman Radd Seiger described the White House meeting as "absolutely extraordinary" and "unprecedented". |
Harry died near RAF Croughton in Northamptonshire on 27 August when his motorcycle was in a crash with a Volvo. | Harry died near RAF Croughton in Northamptonshire on 27 August when his motorcycle was in a crash with a Volvo. |
Mrs Sacoolas - who is reportedly married to a US intelligence official who was stationed at RAF Croughton - was interviewed by police but then returned to the United States after claiming diplomatic immunity. | Mrs Sacoolas - who is reportedly married to a US intelligence official who was stationed at RAF Croughton - was interviewed by police but then returned to the United States after claiming diplomatic immunity. |
Ms Charles said after the White House meeting: "When [President Trump] held my hand, I gripped it a lot tighter and I was honest with him and just said... 'if it was your son you would be doing the same as us'. | Ms Charles said after the White House meeting: "When [President Trump] held my hand, I gripped it a lot tighter and I was honest with him and just said... 'if it was your son you would be doing the same as us'. |
"He actually gripped my hand a little bit tighter and said 'yes I would be'. And that's when he said he would try and look at this from a different angle. | "He actually gripped my hand a little bit tighter and said 'yes I would be'. And that's when he said he would try and look at this from a different angle. |
"I can only hope that he was sincere enough to consider doing that for us. | "I can only hope that he was sincere enough to consider doing that for us. |
"He's the one in control here, but we're the ones in control of our situation as much as we can be - we still want justice for Harry and we will take it as far as we possibly can to ensure that that's done. | "He's the one in control here, but we're the ones in control of our situation as much as we can be - we still want justice for Harry and we will take it as far as we possibly can to ensure that that's done. |
"We do feel that we have done as much as we can at the moment." | "We do feel that we have done as much as we can at the moment." |
Mr Seiger told BBC Breakfast: "After quite sincere and warm condolences [President Trump] got down to business and said he had Mrs Sacoolas in the next room. | Mr Seiger told BBC Breakfast: "After quite sincere and warm condolences [President Trump] got down to business and said he had Mrs Sacoolas in the next room. |
"I looked to my side and I saw at least three photographers ready to almost do a press call." | "I looked to my side and I saw at least three photographers ready to almost do a press call." |
He insisted the meeting should take place in the UK, in the presence of therapists and mediators, but "certainly now now and certainly not in the White House in front of a bank of photographers". | He insisted the meeting should take place in the UK, in the presence of therapists and mediators, but "certainly now now and certainly not in the White House in front of a bank of photographers". |
"You don't just throw open the circus doors with the cameras," he added. | "You don't just throw open the circus doors with the cameras," he added. |
US national security adviser Robert O'Brien told the family during the meeting that Mrs Sacoolas "was never coming back" to the UK, Mr Seiger said. | US national security adviser Robert O'Brien told the family during the meeting that Mrs Sacoolas "was never coming back" to the UK, Mr Seiger said. |
Mr Dunn said of turning down the chance to meet Mrs Sacoolas at the White House: "We weren't ready to meet her - it would have been too rushed. | Mr Dunn said of turning down the chance to meet Mrs Sacoolas at the White House: "We weren't ready to meet her - it would have been too rushed. |
"It's not what we wanted - we wanted a meeting with her in the UK." | "It's not what we wanted - we wanted a meeting with her in the UK." |
But he added that the trip to the White House "didn't feel like a stunt". | But he added that the trip to the White House "didn't feel like a stunt". |
"I think the president was very graceful and spoke very well to us. | "I think the president was very graceful and spoke very well to us. |
"He listened to Charlotte very well, she spoke excellently to him and he was very understanding. | "He listened to Charlotte very well, she spoke excellently to him and he was very understanding. |
"I genuinely do think he will look to resolve this in a way that will help us." | "I genuinely do think he will look to resolve this in a way that will help us." |
Over the weekend, Mrs Sacoolas broke her silence over Mr Dunn's death in a letter via her lawyers. | Over the weekend, Mrs Sacoolas broke her silence over Mr Dunn's death in a letter via her lawyers. |
In it she said she wanted to meet his parents "so that she can express her deepest sympathies and apologies for this tragic accident". | In it she said she wanted to meet his parents "so that she can express her deepest sympathies and apologies for this tragic accident". |
Mrs Sacoolas was said to be covered by diplomatic immunity as the spouse of a US intelligence official, though that protection is now in dispute. | Mrs Sacoolas was said to be covered by diplomatic immunity as the spouse of a US intelligence official, though that protection is now in dispute. |