UK closes loophole that allowed wife of US diplomat to claim immunity after fatal crash

Britain and the US have agreed to close a loophole that allowed the wife of a US diplomat to flee after she was involved in a crash that killed Harry Dunn, 19.

Harry Dunn's mother Charlotte Charles and her husband Bruce Charles

Harry Dunn's parents have lobbied hard to have Anne Sacoolas return to Britain to face justice. (AAP)

Britain has agreed to remove an "anomaly" that allowed the wife of a US official to claim diplomatic immunity after she was involved in a road accident in which 19-year-old Harry Dunn was killed.

The crash last August has caused friction between London and Washington after Britain criticised the US for refusing to extradite Anne Sacoolas.

Now the loophole that allowed Ms Sacoolas to claim immunity has been closed.

Britain's foreign minister Dominic Raab says that under new arrangements, the criminal prosecution of family members of American staff working at the Croughton Annex military base in central England would be permitted.
"It's important that we have now agreed with the US new arrangements that have closed the anomaly that led to the denial of justice in the heart-breaking case of Harry Dunn," Mr Raab said in a statement on Wednesday.

Mr Dunn's family have said Sacoolas was driving on the wrong side of the road at the time of the crash, near the air force base in Northamptonshire which is used by the US military.

Ms Sacoolas left Britain shortly after the accident. Her lawyer has said that she will not return voluntarily to potentially face jail for "a terrible but unintentional accident".


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2 min read
Published 23 July 2020 5:48am
Updated 23 July 2020 6:39am
Source: AAP, SBS


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