Harry Dunn's family call for meeting with PM after US refuses extradition request

23 January 2020, 22:42

Harry Dunn's family are calling for Boris Johnson to meet with them after the US rejected an extradition request for the suspect in "one of the darkest days" for the special relationship.

Asked if the Prime Minister was doing enough, family spokesman Radd Seiger told the press: "I have to say at the moment not. We did not welcome his public comments last week.

"He is the leader of the gang, he aspired to be Prime Minister. History was made last night when the Americans decided not to return her.

"That's the first time in history that the United States has turned down an extradition request. It's one of the darkest days in the history of this special relationship.

"Boris Johnson wanted to be Prime Minister, he is now being tested severely. I expect him today to rise to that challenge and come and meet with me and the family and tell us what he's going to do about it."

The US has rejected the extradition request for Anne Sacoolas, who was charged with causing the death of teenage motorcyclist Harry Dunn by dangerous driving.

Mr Seiger said US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo turned down the request on Thursday.

He said the family were taking time to process the news and would be reacting fully on Friday morning.

The spokesman also told LBC the family were given "no reason" for the decision but that they "always knew this day was coming."

Mr Seiger added: "This doesn't change a single thing from their perspective. Anne Sacoolas is coming back, I promise you that."

Ms Leadsom is due to meet the US ambassador Woody Johnson in London on Friday to discuss the case.

In response to the extradition request being rejected, a spokeswoman for the Home Office said: "We are disappointed in this decision which appears to be a denial of justice. We are urgently considering our options."

Mr Dunn, 19, was killed when his motorbike was involved in a head-on collision outside RAF Croughton in Northamptonshire in August.

The crash allegedly involved Mrs Sacoolas, the wife of a US diplomat, who was charged with causing his death by dangerous driving by the Crown Prosecution Service in December.

The 42-year-old was granted diplomatic immunity following the crash and was able to return to her home country, sparking an international controversy.

Boris Johnson previously said the chance of the suspect ever returning to the UK was very low.

Mrs Sacoolas has said she is “terribly sorry” about the incident and that she had “no time to react” when she saw Mr Dunn’s motorbike.