London: Anne Sacoolas, the wife of an American diplomat, has pleaded guilty to causing the death of a teenager by careless driving in England three years ago, an affair that led to diplomatic friction between Britain and the United States.
Harry Dunn, 19, died in August 2019 after his motorcycle collided with a Volvo traveling on the wrong side of the road by Sacoolas near RAF Croton, an air base in the English county of Northamptonshire used by the US military.
Harry Dunn’s mother, Charlotte Charles (left) and stepfather, Bruce Charles, leave Westminster Magistrates’ Court after the hearing.attributed to him:AP
Sacoolas, whose husband was a US intelligence officer at the base, left Britain shortly after the incident, claiming diplomatic immunity from criminal prosecution and the US refused to extradite her.
Sacoolas appeared in London’s Old Bailey Court via video link from the United States on Thursday (US time), and denied causing death by dangerous driving but pleaded guilty to the less serious charge.
Attorney General Duncan Atkinson said that after consideration “at the highest level” and in close consultation with the Dunn family, the decision was made not to proceed with the trial.
loading
The incident led to a diplomatic spat between London and Washington, with the British government supporting the call for Sacoolas to be prosecuted.
In 2019, Dan’s parents traveled to the White House to meet with then-President Donald Trump, who surprised them by revealing that Sacoolas was in an adjoining room. Dunn’s parents refused to meet her.
“This is what we have been waiting for and fighting so hard for,” Charlotte Charles, his grieving mother, told reporters outside the court, saying she had kept her promise to her son.
Originally published at Melbourne News Vine
No comments:
Post a Comment