Harry Dunn family will not sue United States government over diplomatic immunity scandal to help co-operation

Harry Dunn's family has withdrawn its intention to sue the United States government over its handling of the scandal after promising signs of co-operation.

The parents of the Northamptonshire teenager planned on taking the White House to court for its role in their son's alleged killer, Anne Sacoolas, claiming diplomatic immunity.

But as US State Department said it is working with the British authorities to find a 'reasonable resolution' in the wake of considerations for a virtual trial, the family will no longer be proceeding down the legal route and has written to the American embassy to arrange a meeting.

Harry's mother, Charlotte Charles, said: "We never wanted any of this. All we ever wanted was what anyone else in our shoes would have wanted, that the person responsible for taking Harry’s life be held to account.

"We are going through a living nightmare and we need closure. We will only get that when Mrs Sacoolas faces our justice system.

"We can now see that the US government is working towards that end and we would like to meet with them as parents to explain why that is important and to help the discussions."

Harry, 19, died in hospital after his motorcycle was involved in a crash with a car being driven by Sacoolas on the wrong side of the road near Croughton on August 27, 2019.

The American woman used a legal loophole, which has now been amended, to claim immunity through her husband, who was working at RAF Croughton for the US government, and leave the country.

She was charged with causing death by dangerous driving in December but the State Department rejected an extradition request, a decision the American secretary of state said was final.

Attorney General Suella Braverman is considering trying Sacoolas over the internet or in her absence in a British court while she remains in the US, which sparked the statement from the US.

After a lengthy impasse, the talks between Whitehall and the White House has come as a relief to Harry's family who now want to meet the officials to ensure Sacoolas goes through the English justice system.

A proud Mrs Charles added: "I’m grateful that we now appear to be in the home straight of the worst period of our lives and look forward hopefully to building bridges.

"I think back to the early days before our campaign started when our advisers were working so hard behind the scenes to avoid any dispute and to avoid any publicity.

"That was all thrown back in our faces at the time. I hope they accept our offer of a meeting this time and will look forward to bringing this awful situation to an end."