PM: Chances of US extraditing Harry Dunn suspect to UK 'very low'

14 January 2020, 09:35

Boris Johnson has acknowledged that the chances of the US sending Anne Sacoolas to the UK to face justice over the death of Harry Dunn is "very low."

The US State Department has said the extradition request for the suspect charged in connection with the death of the teenage motorcyclist is highly inappropriate.

The suspect, the wife of a US intelligence official, claimed diplomatic immunity after the collision and was able to return to her home country, sparking an international controversy.

The Prime Minister said in an interview: "I think that it's right that we made the appeal for extradition."But he added: "I think the chances of America actually responding by sending Anne Sacoolas to this country are very low. That's not what they do."

The US Department for State said its position had always been that Ms Sacoolas had diplomatic immunity, stating that a request to extradite somebody with immunity would be an abuse.

A spokesman said the United States has a strong law enforcement relationship with the UK and, in particular, a strong track record of close cooperation on extradition matters.

But they added that under the circumstances of this case, they strongly believe that an extradition request would be highly inappropriate.

The spokesman said they will continue to engage with the UK government and said they have been transparent on all matters, both legal and diplomatic.

Harry Dunn's parents have been fighting for justice for their son since the fatal crash outside RAF Croughton in Northamptonshire in August 2019.

They claimed they had been repeatedly "lied to" by officials until Ms Sacoolas was charged in December.

A Northamptonshire Chief Constable wrote to the family in December to apologise for a "breakdown" in communications.

The 19-year-old's parents went to the USA where Harry Dunn's mother said the American woman suspected of causing her son's death, should be brought back to the UK to face justice, saying: "It's the right thing to to do. It's the humane thing to do."

The family has also had meetings with Home Secretary Priti Patel, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, and their local MP, business secretary Andrea Leadsom.