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Harry Dunn's parents reject Trump offer to meet suspect at White House Harry Dunn's parents reject Trump offer to meet suspect at White House
(about 1 hour 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 after Donald Trump dropped the "bombshell" that she was in the room next door at the White House.
Charlotte Charles and Tim Dunn felt "a little ambushed" by the offer made by the US president.
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 said they wanted to meet Mrs Sacoolas in the UK.
But they declined to meet her, with a family spokesman saying they felt "a little ambushed" by the offer. Mr Dunn said a White House official told them she would not be returning to the UK, but Mr Trump said he would "try to push this from a different angle".
The president said Mrs Sacoolas was in an adjoining room but they refused to see her, saying the conditions were not right. "We want to meet Anne Sacoolas but we want to do it in the UK so the police can interview her," Mr Dunn added.
Mr Trump was sympathetic but did not agree to Mrs Sacoolas' UK return, Harry's parents said. "We didn't want to be railroaded into, not a circus as such, but into a meeting we weren't prepared for."
Family spokesman Radd Seiger described the White House meeting as "absolutely extraordinary" and "unprecedented". Ms Charles said they were "a bit shocked", adding: "The bombshell was dropped soon after we walked in the room that Anne Sacoolas was in the building, and was willing to meet with us.
"I don't think it would be appropriate to meet her without therapists or mediators in the room."
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'. Family spokesman Radd Seiger described the White House meeting as "absolutely extraordinary" and "unprecedented".
"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. But he said US national security adviser Robert O'Brien told the family during the meeting that Mrs Sacoolas "was never coming back" to the UK.
Ms Charles said she told Mr Trump during the White House meeting: "If it was your son you would be doing the same as us."
She added: "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 Dunn said the trip to the White House "didn't feel like a stunt".
"I looked to my side and I saw at least three photographers ready to almost do a press call." "I think the president was very graceful and spoke very well to us," he said.
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.
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.
"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".
"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.