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America must put an end to this shameful evasion of justice

Cited in Related
Vincent
Published date11 February 2021
Publication titleCoventry Telegraph
Mr Dunn, 19, died in a crash near RAF Croughton in Northamptonshire in 2019.

Now it has emerged Sacoolas's intelligence role failed to be mentioned in official notes between the US embassy in London and the Foreign Office when she fled British shores.

The first note, written by officials at the embassy three days after the crash, only labelled Sacoolas as "the spouse of a member of administrative and technical staff of the embassy".

The 43-year-old later flew back to America while claiming diplomatic immunity after the incident.

After she had returned to the States, Northamptonshire Police charged Sacoolas with causing death by dangerous driving.

However, to their deep shame, the US has rejected the UK's extradition request.

Now, as an American court assesses a civil claim by Harry's family against the spy, Sacoolas refuses to give her reasons as to why she fled.

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Instead, a court in Virginia heard her work - Sacoolas and her husband were both employed by a US intelligence agency - was "especially a factor" in her return to America.

The court has been told the decision to withdraw the Sacoolas family from the UK was for "issues of security".

Since arriving back in the States, Sacoolas has refused to comply with British authorities or return to face charges over Harry's death. Her defence barrister said she fears she will "not get a fair trial in the United Kingdom" should she return.

A pathetic argument, given it is her actions alone that have cast her in such a bad light, in what really seems to be a genuinely terrible accident after she became confused over which side of the road to drive on.

When later asked by the judge, why she "fled" the UK, her barrister John McGavin, said he could not respond "completely candidly" adding: "I know the answer, but I cannot disclose it".

Given the admission in open court by Sacoolas's counsel that US intelligence services...

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