US diplomat’s wife asks for interview over car crash that killed teenager

The American woman who fled the UK after teenager Harry Dunn was killed in a crash near a US military base has asked to be interviewed by British police in the United States under caution.

A police spokesman. Picture: PA

Northamptonshire chief constable Nick Adderley revealed the news as he urged Radd Seiger, who is acting as spokesman for the Dunn family, to “exercise constraint”.

Anne Sacoolas, the wife of a US diplomat, is believed to have been driving on the wrong side of the road when she hit 19-year-old Harry’s motorbike outside RAF Croughton in Northamptonshire on 27 August.

She later fled to the US, claiming diplomatic immunity.

Harry’s parents, Charlotte Charles and Tim Dunn, have made repeated pleas for Mrs Sacoolas to return to the UK to “face justice” while Mr Seiger has accused the authorities of “further compounding the family’s misery” through “contradictory” actions.

Speaking at a press conference yesterday, Mr Adderley said Mrs Sacoolas, was “utterly devastated” and had asked to be interviewed by UK police officers in the US.

He said: “Lawyers have clearly stated that the suspect wants to be personally interviewed by officers from Northamptonshire Police in order for them to see her and the devastation this has caused her and her family.

“She did not want to provide a pre-prepared statement, which is her right to do so. We do understand from colleagues in the US that the family is utterly devastated.”

He said the force was awaiting the necessary visas before officers could travel to the US but that the suspect, who he did not actually name, would be interviewed under caution once that could take place.

Mr Adderley said: “From the police’s point of view we have to make sure we maintain the integrity of all of the evidence and that it is not skewed by it [the diplomatic immunity debate] to ensure a fair trial should we get to an extradition position and she comes back to the UK.

“We don’t want to jeopardise that by not affording her a fair trial.”

Mr Adderley called on Mr Seiger to consider his behaviour.

He said: “I urge the family spokesman to exercise constraint in his commentary as the case moves forward.”