Harry's mum calls High Court defeat "just a blip" in fight to bring son's 'killer' back to UK

"I promised my boy I would get him justice ... No one is going to stand in our way," says Charlotte Charles.
Harry Dunn's mum Charlotte Charles vowed to continue her fight for justiceHarry Dunn's mum Charlotte Charles vowed to continue her fight for justice
Harry Dunn's mum Charlotte Charles vowed to continue her fight for justice

Harry Dunn's mum says today's High Court judgement is "just a blip" in her battled to get justice for her son.

Harry, 19, was killed 15 months ago when his motorbike collided with a car being driven on the wrong side of the road by American Sacoolas outside a US Air Force base near Brackley.

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His parents launched a legal battle against the Foreign Office decision to allow Mrs Sacoolas diplomatic immunity and had obstructed Northamptonshire Police investigations into the crash.

The campaign was launched after American Anne Sacoolas fled to the US following the crash which killed HarryThe campaign was launched after American Anne Sacoolas fled to the US following the crash which killed Harry
The campaign was launched after American Anne Sacoolas fled to the US following the crash which killed Harry

But two High Court judges today decided: "Our conclusion is that Mrs Sacoolas enjoyed immunity from UK criminal jurisdiction at the time of Harry's death."

The judges also rejected the family's claim that the Foreign Office "usurped" Police investigations into their son's death, finding officials "sought to assist rather than obstruct" the enquiries.

Following the ruling, Harry's mum Charlotte Charles, said: "The governments and Mrs Sacoolas need to understand that this court ruling is just a blip along the way.

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"I promised my boy I would get him justice and that is just what Team Harry are going to do. No one is going to stand in our way.

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab. Photo: Getty ImagesForeign Secretary Dominic Raab. Photo: Getty Images
Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab. Photo: Getty Images

"Right from the start our team have advised us that Anne Sacoolas did not have diplomatic immunity when she killed Harry and that advice is just as strong now as it was at the start of our campaign.

"It's obviously disappointing that this court did not find in our favour but we are more focused now than ever on fulfilling that promise."

Harry's parents initially also took legal action against Northamptonshire Police but dropped their claim in July with the family's spokesman confirming that the Force had been "absolved of any blame".

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Mrs Sacoolas, 43, was ultimately charged with causing death by dangerous outside RAF Croughton driving last December, but an extradition request was rejected by the US State Department in January — a decision it later described as "final".

Harry's parents have been fighting to get Mrs Sacoolas back to the UK to face trial ever since.

At a hearing earlier this month, their lawyers said the Foreign Office "took upon itself the authority to resolve the question of immunity and ultimately and unlawfully decided to accept the US embassy's decision that Anne Sacoolas had immunity".

Sam Wordsworth QC told the court that Sacoolas had "no duties at all" at the base and therefore "never had any relevant immunity for the US to waive".

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The family's spokesman Radd Seiger said: "Harry's totally innocent family continue to find themselves in the middle of a war and are being tortured right in front of our eyes, each and every day.

"Dominic Raab may have won this round but the legal battle is only just beginning.

"He pretends to be on the family's side but we can all see his actions tell a different story.

"This judgement is simply wrong and we believe this Court has not grasped the issues in the case. The parents are immediately appealing against this judgement on strong legal advice and will take their case to the highest court in the land for a definitive ruling.

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"More importantly, however, the bottom line remains that you do not get to kill someone and walk away in 21st Century Britain, no matter who you are.

"The person responsible for Harry's death just upped and left the country as if nothing had happened and the US Government is behaving like and agressor rather than an ally in denying Harry's family justice."