American Anne Sacoolas to face U.K. court over crash that killed teenager Harry Dunn
An American citizen who left Britain after being involved in a crash that killed a teenage motorcyclist is to face charges in a British court, prosecutors said Monday. In an apparent breakthrough in the long-deadlocked case, the Crown Prosecution Service said the case against Anne Sacoolas would be heard at London's Westminster Magistrates' Court on Jan 18. She faces a charge of causing death by dangerous driving.
Britain's Press Association news agency reported that Sacoolas would appear by video link from the United States, but the CPS declined to comment.
"While the challenges and complexity of this case are well known, we remain committed to securing justice in this matter," the prosecution service said.
Sacoolas is accused of killing 19-year-old Harry Dunn in a collision outside RAF Croughton, an air base in eastern England used by U.S. forces, in August 2019. She returned to the U.S. days later and the American government invoked diplomatic immunity on her behalf, prompting an outcry in Britain.
Dunn's family have pressed politicians in Britain and the United States to get Sacoolas to face British justice, but an extradition request was refused by U.S. authorities.
Dunn's mother, Charlotte Charles, said the family felt "very emotional and overwhelmed, having just learned the news that Mrs. Sacoolas is now to face our justice system. It is all that we asked for following Harry's death."
Charles added in a statement: "I did not get to the hospital in time to say goodbye to Harry on the night he died. That breaks my heart each and every moment of every day and will live me with me forever. But I made him a promise as I stood over his body and stroked his forehead and kissed his bruised lip, that we would get him justice."
Earlier this year, the teen's father told CBS News that he wanted "accountability" from Sacoolas.
"I just want her to own it — her accountability — for what she has done to us as a family and to my son. And I need to ask her why she left, why did she think it was okay to leave my son there and — and just leave the country. It still hurts after two years not knowing," Tim Dunn said.
"I feel like my son's life was just — I don't want to be horrible, but like it was — meant nothing to her," he said.