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Harry Dunn PA Images

UK lodges extradition request for wife of US diplomat charged over death of teenage motorcyclist

Anne Sacoolas claimed diplomatic immunity after the death of Harry Dunn.

THE UK HOME Office has said it has submitted an extradition request for the suspect charged in connection with the death of teenage motorcyclist Harry Dunn.

Anne Sacoolas was charged with causing the 19-year-old’s death by dangerous driving last month.

Harry died after his motorbike crashed into a car outside RAF Croughton in Northamptonshire on 27 August last year.

The 42-year-old 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.

Now, the Home Office has said the matter is now “a decision for the US authorities” after formally submitting the extradition request on Friday.

Confirming the extradition request, a spokesman for the Home Office said: “Following the Crown Prosecution Service’s charging decision, the Home Office has sent an extradition request to the United States for Anne Sacoolas on charges of causing death by dangerous driving.

“This is now a decision for the US authorities.”

Harry’s family have said they are “pleased” with the development, adding that they feel it is a “huge step towards achieving justice for Harry”.

The family have initiated various legal proceedings against the Foreign Office, the US government and Sacoolas herself after their lawyers disputed the granting of diplomatic immunity.

Reacting to the extradition request on behalf of Harry Dunn’s family, spokesman Radd Seiger told the PA news agency: “I have learned that the extradition request for Anne Sacoolas has been delivered today to the United States Department of Justice in accordance with the requirements laid out in the treaty between the two countries and I have notified the parents.

“This will not of course bring Harry back, but in the circumstances of all that this family have been through, they are pleased with the development and feel that it is a huge step towards achieving justice for Harry and making good on the promise that they made to him on the night he died that they would secure justice for him.

“Despite the unwelcome public comments currently emanating from the US administration that Anne Sacoolas will never be returned, Harry’s parents, as victims, will simply look forward to the legal process unfolding, as it must now do, confident in the knowledge that the rule of law will be upheld.

“They will simply take things one step at a time and not get ahead of themselves. However, no one, whether diplomat or otherwise, is above the law.”

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    Mute Hugh Conaghan
    Favourite Hugh Conaghan
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    Dec 26th 2015, 8:28 AM

    Thoughts are with the man’s family and friends. I cannot even begin to imagine what they are going through. RIP

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    Mute Peter Kelly
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    Dec 26th 2015, 8:30 AM

    Must be dreadful getting that knock on your door on Christmas day. God help them all.

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    Mute Rusty3578
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    Dec 26th 2015, 12:53 PM

    So sad maybe he wasn’t wearing a yellow vest (be safe be seen ) …

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    Mute Matty Reese
    Favourite Matty Reese
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    Dec 26th 2015, 1:17 PM

    Imagine that, going out without a yellow vest, well that makes running him down on christmas day ok then doesn’t it. Do you have some information on what he was wearing? And how do you know that his clothing was a contributing factor? Did you carry out the investigation into the incident?
    If you have nothing useful to post then don’t bother posting.

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    Mute Hugh G. Johnson
    Favourite Hugh G. Johnson
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    Dec 26th 2015, 1:20 PM

    If you don’t drive recklessly it wouldn’t matter.

    I approached a guy walking on the wrong side of the road in pitch black clothing, on a pitch black night, and I didn’t kill him – but then I was actually driving within the speed limit so that may have had something to do with it.

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    Mute Teresa O'Meara
    Favourite Teresa O'Meara
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    Dec 26th 2015, 9:14 PM

    It wasn’t the drivers fault at all.

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