News / Foreign Policy

Harry Dunn's death forces UK and US to end diplomatic immunity ‘anomaly’

Wednesday, 22 July 2020 3:40 PM [ Last Update: Wednesday, 22 July 2020 3:40 PM ]

Harry Dunn (L) was killed by former CIA officer Anne Sacoolas (R) who is married to a serving US spy formerly based at RAF Croughton

Following months of campaigning by Harry Dunn’s grieving family, the UK and US governments have finally agreed to abolish the “anomaly” that allowed Harry’s killer to escape from British justice.

Harry Dunn family urges government to pressure Mike Pompeo

Harry Dunn

According to multiple reports, a British court learnt last month that a “secret agreement” between the UK and US governments had allowed Anne Sacoolas (who is a former CIA officer) to evade British justice by escaping to the US after she killed Harry in a road crash outside RAF Croughton (Northamptonshire) last August.

Harry Dunn's twin brother calls for justice and accountability

Harry Dunn

However, the closing of the loophole which allowed Sacoolas to escape is not believed to be retrospective, meaning that Harry’s grieving family still has a long fight on their hands to secure Sacoolas’ extradition to Britain.

Harry Dunn family call for blocking Assange extradition on lack of reciprocity grounds

In an interesting development, the family of Harry Dunn,who was killed by a CIA officer, have called on the UK authorities to block the extradition of Julian Assange to the US.

For their part, Northamtonshire Police (which initially investigated the fatal crash) said it would continue “working with British prosecutors” to secure Sacoolas’ extradition to the UK so that she can finally stand trial.

Last December the UK’s Crown Prosecution Service charged Sacoolas with causing death by dangerous driving, a crime that can attract a prison sentence of up to 14 years.

Harry Dunn father calls for Prince Andrew and Anne Sacoolas swap

As the US authorities formally seek to question Prince Andrew, Harry Dunn

Meanwhile, potential crashes of the type seen last August continue to be a major hazard outside RAF Croughton where American drivers regularly flout the law by driving on the wrong side of the road.