Harry Dunn latest: Teen's family 'encouraged' by meeting with Dominic Raab as he urges suspect to 'do the right thing'

Jacob Jarvis17 December 2019

Harry Dunn's family said they have been given "hope" after meeting with the Foreign Secretary again to discuss the 19-year-old's death.

Harry's father Tim Dunn said their conversation with Dominic Raab, held at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London, on Tuesday was more "open" and "friendly" than a meeting held in October.

"This meeting was a lot better. He was more engaging, he came across more honest," Mr Dunn said.

Harry's family sought the further conversation with Mr Raab in a bid to reach "common ground", after being left disappointed by the earlier meeting.

In November, Harry's father travelled to Mr Raab's constituency in Esher and Walton to confront him over his handling of the case.

Harry Dunn died aged 19
PA

Harry Dunn was killed when his motorbike was involved in a head-on collision with a car outside RAF Croughton in Northamptonshire, on August 27.

The suspect in the case, 42-year-old Anne Sacoolas, claimed diplomatic immunity after the crash and returned to the US.

Harry's mother Charlotte Charles was not present on Tuesday after being left "utterly devastated" after watching footage of Mrs Sacoolas reversing out of her driveway in the state of Virginia.

A spokesman for the family, Radd Seiger, said the "warm" meeting with Mr Raab had covered a range of issues.

Both sides agreed to "improve" communication, he said.

Mr Seiger claimed the Foreign Secretary wants Mrs Sacoolas to return from the US to the UK.

Tributes: flowers left at the scene of the crash
Getty Images

He said: "One of the things that came across loud and clear for us which hadn't come across before is that both Andrea Leadsom (the MP for Northamptonshire South) and the Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab would like this lady to come back too, and that's not something that we had heard."

Mr Seiger added: "He shared with us that he needs to be very careful with his words and what he says, he doesn't want to get hopes up.

"But he assured us that he's doing absolutely everything he can to give this family the justice that they need and deserve."

Mr Dunn said the family was "shocked" to see Mrs Sacoolas driving, while Mr Seiger commented on Mr Raab's reaction to the footage of her "getting on with her life".

"Like the rest of us, he just shook his head, none of us can understand it, because it's inexplicable," Mr Seiger said.

A file of evidence was handed to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) on November 1 after Northamptonshire Police interviewed Mrs Sacoolas in the US.

Mr Dunn urged the CPS to reach a decision on whether to charge Mrs Sacoolas to help give his family "closure ... for grieving".

Asked if Mr Raab had commented on Mrs Sacoolas returning to the UK, Mr Seiger said: "He was quite honest about it, he said that it's not really up to him, it's up to the police and the CPS, and still to this day we are scratching our heads as to why the Crown Prosecution Service have not authorised the charge."

Following his meeting with the family of Harry Dunn, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said: "Earlier today, I had a constructive meeting with Harry Dunn's family. I appreciate how painful this is for them, and welcomed the chance to address a number of their concerns.

"We are united in our determination to get justice for Harry. The Government will do everything it can. I also reaffirmed my commitment to conclude the review of the arrangements at RAF Croughton by the end of the year to ensure they cannot be used in this way again.

"I appeal to Anne Sacoolas herself to do the right thing. If there is a charging decision from the Crown Prosecution Service, I urge her to come back to the United Kingdom and co-operate with the criminal justice process.

"Finally, I want to pay tribute to the tenacity of Harry's family and friends and their determination to get justice for Harry. We will support them in any way we can."

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