Who is Harry Dunn’s alleged killer Anne Sacoolas and where is she now? – The Sun

HIGH Court judges have ruled that Anne Sacoolas did have diplomatic immunity when she allegedly crashed into Harry Dunn’s motorbike on August 27, 2019. 

The US diplomat’s wife has been at the centre of a bitter diplomatic row between the US and Britain since the death of the 19-year-old. 

Who is Anne Sacoolas? 

Ms Sacoolas is the wife of US diplomat Jonathan Sacoolas who was stationed on the US intelligence base at RAF Croughton, Northamptonshire in 2019. 

In December 2019, she was charged with causing death by dangerous driving over the death of Harry, 19, in a head-on smash near RAF Croughton on August 27, 2019.

Ms Sacoolas was born Anne Elizabeth Goodwin, and is from South Carolina.

She graduated from South Aiken High School before going on to study psychology at the University of South Carolina.

Ms Sacoolas was working for the US State Department in Washington when she married her husband in 2003.

In February 2020, it emerged that Ms Sacoolas also reportedly worked for the CIA as a spy, and was more senior than her husband.

However, she was not "active" as a spook when she was in the UK, the Mail on Sunday reported. 

The Foreign Office said Sacoolas was "was notified to us as a spouse with no official role".

Senior Whitehall figures reportedly confirmed they knew about her CIA background.

Where is Anne Sacoolas now? 

Ms Sacoolas left the UK with her family in the weeks following the crash. 

In December 2019, she was charged with causing death by dangerous driving over the death of Harry, 19, and faced pressure to return to the UK. 

Interpol issued a Red Notice for the 42-year-old mum-of-three in May 2020 effectively meaning Ms Sacoolas would face arrest if she left the US.

But High Court judges ruled on Tuesday, November 23, 2020 that Anne Sacoolas did have diplomatic immunity at the time of the alleged incident. 

Anne Sacoolas remains in the US and was pictured in Virginia in February.

How is Anne Sacoolas linked to the death of Harry Dunn?

Ms Sacoolas is understood to have been driving the SUV which was involved in a head on collision with Harry.
She is understood to have left the US base at RAF Croughton and was allegedly driving on the wrong side of the road when she is said to have fatally hit the teen.
The military base is used by the US Air Force, and processes around a third of all US military communications in Europe.
Harry's mum Charlotte Charles said her son was going to visit his twin brother Niall when he was killed in the crash.
Ms Sacoolas left Britain on September 15, 2019 after claiming diplomatic immunity – with Harry's family being informed she had left on September 23.
The US embassy confirmed Ms Sacoolas was behind the wheel of the car involved, and Northamptonshire Police have said the car was travelling on the wrong side of the road.
Since the incident, Anne Sacoolas has been at the centre of a bitter row between UK and US authorities.
Washington has refused to extradite her despite appeals by both Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab.
US President Donald Trump tried to engineer a meeting between Ms Sacoolas and Harry's parents Charlotte and Tim Dunn during a summit at the White House.
The family refused to participate in the stunt which was sprung on them during a meeting in October 2019 – later describing it as an "ambush".

Has Anne Sacoolas been charged? 

Harry's family spokesman Radd Seiger confirmed on December 20, 2019 that the CPS have charged Sacoolas with causing death by dangerous driving.

A file of evidence was handed to the CPS in November after Northamptonshire Police interviewed Ms Sacoolas in the US.

The UK filed a formal extradition request on January 10, 2020 to bring her back to face justice.

However, the US State Department said the request for Ms Sacoolas's return was highly inappropriate and would be an abuse.

Mr Seiger said it was the first time the US had ever turned down an extradition request by the UK.

Does Anne Sacoolas have diplomatic immunity? 

High Court judges ruled on Tuesday November 23 that Ms Sacoolas did have diplomatic immunity at the time of the crash.

Lord Justice Flaux and Mr Justice Saini both found Anne Sacoolas had diplomatic immunity "on arrival in the UK" which had not been "expressly waived" – meaning she did have immunity at the time of Harry Dunn’s death.
Harry Dunn’s parents had brought the case against the Foreign Office to the High Court.

After the ruling, they vowed to keep fighting for justice and to appeal the decision.
Harry's mum Charlotte said: "The governments and Mrs Sacoolas need to understand that this Court ruling is just a blip along the way, I promised my boy I would get him justice and this is just what Team Harry are going to do.
"No one is going to stand in our way."
Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said: “My thoughts today are with Harry’s family.
"While this judgment makes clear the Foreign Office acted properly and lawfully throughout, I appreciate that won’t provide any solace to the family in their search for justice.
"We stand with them, we’re clear that Anne Sacoolas needs to face justice in the UK, and we will support the family with their legal claim in the US.”

Has Anne Sacoolas cooperated with the investigation of Harry Dunn's death?

Ms Sacoolas initially cooperated with police but later claimed diplomatic immunity and left the UK.

The High Court has now upheld Ms Sacoolas’ claim to diplomatic immunity – although Harry Dunn’s parents have said they plan to appeal the decision. 

The special arrangement has been in place as early as 1994 for this particular base.

An attempt by Northamptonshire Police to stop her leaving was declined.

Ms Sacoolas's lawyers contacted the Foreign Office on April 27, 2020 to seek a "resolution", but then US officials declined meet with the family to discuss the matter further on May 5, 2020.

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