US insists Anne Sacoolas extradition rejection was 'final' as Harry Dunn family welcome Interpol intervention

Northamptonshire family believe red notice shows they are on the same page as the British authorities
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The United States government insists the rejection of a British extradition request for the woman accused of killing Harry Dunn was final despite her being 'wanted internationally'.

Interpol's issuing of a red notice for Anne Sacoolas does not change her diplomatic immunity from prosecution, according to the US State Department.

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The Northamptonshire teenager's parents have been on multiple national media welcoming the latest development in their long-running campaign for justice.

A Justice4Harry banner at the site of his crash with Anne Sacoolas outside CroughtonA Justice4Harry banner at the site of his crash with Anne Sacoolas outside Croughton
A Justice4Harry banner at the site of his crash with Anne Sacoolas outside Croughton

Harry's mother Charlotte Charles said on Good Morning Britain: "The one major thing that came out of this Red Interpol notice yesterday is that it encourages us.

"It confirms to us that the UK authorities are finally on the same page as us because they cannot issue a red Interpol notice to anybody that was or is covered by diplomatic immunity.

"That gives us confidence that finally after eight months of losing Harry and the fighting that we have done, the UK authorities are clearly on the same page as us."

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Harry, 19, died after his motorcycle was involved in a collision with Sacoolas' Volvo, which she has admitted was on the wrong side of the road, near Croughton on August 27, 2019.

The American driver initially co-operated with police but then told officers she had diplomatic immunity before flying back to the United States a few weeks later.

She was charged with causing death by dangerous driving in December, but the US State Department rejected an extradition request in January.

Last night it emerged Sacoolas was now subject to the red notice, which means she will be arrested if she leaves the US.

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The US Government spokesman said granting the extradition request for Sacoolas would have rendered the diplomatic immunity a 'practical nullity' and set an 'extraordinarily troubling precedent'.

Harry's father, Tim Dunn, said: "I wasn't expecting it at all and from my understanding is that she is now a wanted fugitive.

"If she leaves America she can be arrested and sent back to the UK and stand trial so its a massive step for us as a family, it's been a real hard time.

"This news is great I am sure this is going to help us down the road, it's going to be a good thing."

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Shadow Foreign Secretary Lisa Nandy has also reacted to the Interpol intervention, saying it 'highlights the clear and repeated failings of the Foreign Office in the handling of the case'.

“The Foreign Secretary must now urgently come to the House to explain these failings, and set out how he will engage with his counterparts in the United States to resolve this situation and provide much-needed closure for Harry Dunn’s family and loved ones," she added.