News / Foreign Policy

Harry Dunn family urges government to pressure Mike Pompeo

Sunday, 19 July 2020 6:04 PM [ Last Update: Sunday, 19 July 2020 6:04 PM ]

Harry's mother Charlotte Charles has spoken out ahead of the first anniversary of her son's killing by a fugitive American former spy

As the United States Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, prepares to visit Britain tomorrow, the grieving family of tragic teenager Harry Dunn has urged the government to make Harry the “top priority” in negotiations.

Harry’s mother, Charlotte Charles, urged Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, and Foreign Secretary, Dominic Raab, to raise the issue of her son’s killer’s extradition with Pompeo.

PM Johnson urged to intervene by Harry's brother Niall Dunn

After nearly a year of obfuscation and stonewalling the Dunn family have had enough and are now calling for the PM to personally intervene.

Harry, who was 19 at the time of his death in August last year, was killed by former US spy, Anne Sacoolas, outside RAF Croughton (which houses a US spy base) in Northamptonshire.

Sacoolas, who is married to a serving US spy, evaded British justice by falsely claiming diplomatic immunity and escaping from the country, in part aided by the UK’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Harry Dunn's twin brother calls for justice and accountability

Harry Dunn

In December 2019 the Crown Prosecution Service charged Sacoolas with death by dangerous driving, a crime that can attract a prison sentence of up to 14 years.

In a video statement ahead of Pompeo’s visit on Monday, Harry’s grieving mother said: "Mr Raab, Mr Pompeo, Mr Johnson, when you get together next week with all of your families fully intact whilst mine is in complete tatters and my family has been ripped apart, can you please, please discuss Harry?”.

Charlotte Charles described the past 11 months since her son’s death as "horrific" and proclaimed that she would not wish what she has gone through "on your worst enemy".

"We've got his [Harry’s] anniversary coming up which is going to be beyond painful for us", Charlotte said referring to the date Harry was killed which was August 27 last year.

"It's been nearly a year, please don't let this roll into a second year”, Charlotte pleaded.

However, despite the heartfelt plea by Harry’s mother, the foreign secretary, Dominic Raab, appears to be as unmoved as ever.

Raab told Sky News that there are “no measures” to force the US to extradite Sacoolas to the UK.