Photo: Facebook
She fled the country after the fatal accident.
By Elizabeth Ward — Written on Oct 13, 2019
The diplomat’s wife was denied diplomatic immunity after killing a 19-year-old man in a fatal collision and fled the UK after the accident. The UK’s Foreign Office confirmed that Anne Sacoolas is not eligible for diplomatic immunity because her name did not appear on the official London list since it only covers London-based diplomats; preventing her legal immunity.
Harry Dunn, 19, was fatally stuck on his motorcycle by Sacoolas after she made a wrong turn on a British road in Northamptonshire. Dunn was taken to the hospital and died hours later. Because Dunn was still alive at the scene, authorities did not immediately arrest Sacoolas.
Political figures and the Dunn family are desperately seeking justice for Harry Dunn and are requesting that Sacoolas return to the UK for a proper investigation.
Here are the details we know so far regarding the incident. Who is Anne Sacoolas?
1. Sacoolas was initially cooperative with authorities but left the country
According to The New York Post, Sacoolas initially cooperated with local authorities but then requested diplomatic immunity, which she was denied. Per her lawyers' advice, she and her family then fled the country on their private jet.
2. The British Prime Minister wants Sacoolas to face justice for her caused fatality.
British Prime Minister Borris Johnson stated that he hopes Sacoolas will do the right thing and return to the UK for a proper investigation or he will go directly to President Trump.
Johnson told BBC on Monday, "I think everybody's sympathies are very much with the family of Harry Dunn and our condolences to them for their tragic loss... I do not think that it can be right to use the process of diplomatic immunity for this type of purpose. And I hope that Anne Sacoolas will come back and will engage properly with the processes of law as they are carried out in this country. That's a point that we've raised or are raising today with the American ambassador here in the UK and I hope it will be resolved very shortly."
3. The victim’s mother vowed to go to the US for his case, if necessary.
Harry’s mom, Charlotte Charles, 44, said she would take any measure to bring justice to her son and is willing to meet with President Trump over the matter. Speaking on ITV’s This Morning, she stated: “We won’t stop. We will go over to Washington if we have to. We’ve taken advice from a lawyer on that. We will plead with President Trump to look at the laws, look at diplomatic immunity, and hopefully realize it is there to protect diplomats and their families when they are in danger...not when they commit such a serious crime as this.”
4. Piers Morgan requested President Trump send Sacoolas back to the UK for trial.
On Good Morning Britain, host Piers Morgan requested that Trump intervene, saying: "President Trump — get her on a plane and get her to come back and answer the questions". He then requested that Sacoolas take accountability and willingly accept whatever sentence comes her way.
"Imagine the other way around — imagine if it was a British diplomat in America and that person's wife killed a 19-year-old American boy on the road in that manner in an accident. There would be absolute mayhem. We can't have a special relationship if you are going to do this to our justice system."
5. Sacoolas has a past driving record showing negligence.
According to The UK Times, this is not the first occurrence of negligence behind the wheel for Sacoolas. According to Virginia DMV records, Sacoolas was charged with failure to “pay full time and attention” while driving in 2006 and did not dispute the case. It should also be noted that because she paid the $97 fine, her court appearance was dismissed.
6. Her 12-year-old son was with her during the accident.
According to The Daily Beast, Sacoolas's 12-year-old son was reportedly a passenger in the Volvo. The article states: "The car had diplomatic plates, but witnesses who rushed to the crash site told Northamptonshire police that Sacoolas immediately took the blame and gave all her details, including her British and American cellphone numbers".
Elizabeth Ward is a writing student finishing her bachelor’s at the University of Louisville. She covers news, entertainment, relationships and everything in between.