Anne Sacoolas: US refusal to extradite Harry Dunn suspect is a ‘denial of justice’, PM says
Written by News on 28/01/2020
America’s refusal to extradite the suspect in Harry Dunn’s death amounts to a “denial of justice”, Boris Johnson has said.
The prime minister has joined Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab and Home Secretary Priti Patel in criticising Washington’s decision to reject the request for Anne Sacoolas to return to the UK.
On the day Mr Dunn’s parents had a “very honest” and “positive” meeting with Mr Raab, Mr Johnson’s spokesman said: “We believe that this is a denial of justice and the individual concerned should return to the UK.”
The PM’s comments were welcomed by Harry’s mother Charlotte Charles, who said the prime minister should “use his power” to pressure Donald Trump and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to send the suspect back to the UK.
She said: “The fact that he has come out and said that is obviously a good thing but we hope that he can follow this up with actions now.
“He needs to use his power, because he’s the only person with the power to tell Trump and Pompeo that she needs to come back.
“It feels good that he’s on the same page as us and this is certainly a step in the right direction.”
Harry, 19, died in a head-on crash with a car while riding his motorcycle near RAF Croughton in Northamptonshire on 27 August 2019.
Sacoolas, 42, was charged with causing his death by dangerous driving in December.
The wife of a US intelligence official based at RAF Croughton, Sacoolas claimed diplomatic immunity after the crash.
Mr Pompeo rejected an extradition request by the UK government for Sacoolas on Thursday.
Asked what her message to the prime minister would be, Mrs Charles said: “Make the country proud of you. There are a lot of people out there who don’t necessarily have faith in this government and this is a chance for him to restore a bit of that faith.
“It’s certainly another step forward but until I see action, they are not empty words, but they are words that need action behind them to show us that they are 100% going to stand up for us.”
Mrs Charles also said that she and her husband Tim Dunn “could see his anger” regarding America’s decision to turn down the extradition request – adding that Mr Raab had answered every question they asked him.
A Downing Street spokesman said Mr Johnson “reiterated the need” for Sacoolas to return to the UK when he spoke to Donald Trump on the phone last Friday.
Mr Pompeo is set to meet Mr Raab on Wednesday.
(c) Sky News 2020: Anne Sacoolas: US refusal to extradite Harry Dunn suspect is a ‘denial of justice’, PM says
