The US warned Britain that a suspect involved in the death of 19 – year-old Harry Dunn would leave the country – but the UK’s objection had no effect.
Foreign SecretaryDominic Raabhas told the House of Commons that his department was informed that Anne Sacoolas would be taken out of the UK, but their attempts to have her stay for “justice to be done” were unsuccessful.
Mr Raab said UK police were unable to legally prevent Mrs Sacoolas from leaving.
But he said the government position was thatMrs Sacoolas’ immunity endedwhen she left the UK.
Mr Dunn, 19, died when his motorbike collided with a car outside RAF Croughton in Northamptonshire on 27 August. Signs have since been placed there to say “drive on the left”.
Mr Raab said: “I have already commissioned a review of the immunity arrangements for US personnel and their families at Croughton.
“As this case has demonstrated, I do not believe the current arrangements are right and the review will look at how we can make sure that the arrangements at Croughton cannot be used in this way again.”
He said the case is now with the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and Mr Raab has committed to fight for justice for the family.
Mr Raab also said he and others, including Boris Johnson, have raised the case “at every level” of the US government, including with the president, Donald Trump.
The Dunn family lawyer Radd Seiger told Sky News that Mr Raab’s statement added insult to injury . He said that Mrs Sacoolas did not have immunity at all.
He said Mr Raab had the opportunity to take the families through the timeline he presented to parliament and did not, which is why they went to the US.
Mr Seiger said the family did not know the FCO knew Mrs Sacoolas had gone when she did, and noted the gap of up to three weeks before they were told. Mr Raab claimed in the Commons it was only one to two days’ delay before the family were told she had left the country.
The Dunn family position is that she did not have diplomatic immunity because her husband was not a diplomat and no diplomatic work was taking place at RAF Croughton.
He said “nobody wants to go to the courts “but that they have lawyers ready to go” on both sides of the Atlantic “because of their frustration with the current results of their efforts.
It comes afterMr Dunn’sparents cancelled a meeting with the chief constable of Northamptonshire Police after they realized he would not be answering “a series of key questions”.
Charlotte Charles and Tim Dunn had prepared questions for Nick Adderley for the meeting on Wednesday afternoon, but the force’s chief contacted them to “provide clarity” that the meeting would be “a private and personal visit to express condolences”.
Mr Seiger said the time for condolences had “long since past” but the time for ” answers and truth is long overdue “.
The spokesman had sent Mr Adderley a series of questions about why Anne Sacoolas had been granted diplomatic immunity and the way she had left the country.
Mrs Charles and Mr Dunn also say they have heard rumors that Northamptonshire officers were on the way to the US to continue their investigation and asked to find out what the purpose of the visit would be.
The family also wanted to know about the potential to charge and extradite Mrs Sacoolas back to the UK.
Mr Seiger said the family had an “unsatisfactory” call with a member of the force on Sunday about the case.
He said: “We had an unsatisfactory call from them yesterday from someone who clearly prepared a script.
“Charlotte got very upset at them actually.”
The call was ended prematurely, he said, and the family had hoped for more answers.
Mr Seiger continued: “We have been told that Northamptonshire Police are either in the US or are on their way from the UK – either going to the States to interview her or see Donald Trump. “
But announcing they would be cancelling the meeting with the chief constable, the families said on Twitter:” When it became clear that his intention was merely to offer his condolences some eight weeks on from the tragedy , instead of answering a series of key questions put to him over the weekend, they felt both theirs and the chief’s time were better spent elsewhere.
“The time for condolences has long since passed and the answers to the many questions about Anne Sacoolas’ departure and next steps are long overdue!
” Every moment that passes without those answers only compounds the family’s pain and misery. Totally unacceptable!
“The FCO and Northants police have both told the family that the balls is firmly in the other’s court.
” The left hand does not appear to be talking to the right hand and in the meantime they appear to have little or no concern or understanding of the impact that is having. Enough!
“We will not rest until we have justice for Harry.”
GIPHY App Key not set. Please check settings