U
Citizen Anne Sakoulas has admitted killing teenager Harry Dunn in a fatal road crash, ending a three-year campaign to bring her to justice.
The 45-year-old was driving on the wrong side of the road when she hit 19-year-old Mr Dunn’s motorbike outside a US military base in Northamptonshire on August 27, 2019.
Members of the Dunn family were at the Old Bailey on Thursday when Sakoulas – who appeared via video link from America – pleaded guilty to causing death by careless driving.
Parents Charlotte Charles and Tim Dunne sat behind lawyers as their supporters – wearing bright green ties and scarves – watched from the public gallery.
Mrs Justice Chima Grub adjourned sentencing until the end of November and called on Sakulas to fly to the UK for the hearing as a sign of remorse.
Read more
She said the sentence could be as low as a medium community order, while a three-year prison sentence was at the top of the sentencing range. But she also acknowledged that whatever sentence is handed down would be unenforceable if Sakulas remains in the US.
Prosecutor Duncan Atkinson KC said the case was dealt with at the highest level of the CPS before a decision was made to accept Sacoolas’ plea to causing death by careless driving and not to pursue the more serious charge of causing death by dangerous driving.
“This case relates to the fatal injury of 19-year-old Harry Dunn on the evening of August 27, 2019, following a collision between hs motorcycle and the car driven by this defendant,” he told the hearing.
“(She) was driving on the wrong side of the road at the time after turning from Croton Air Force Base on her way home, having traveled a distance of 350m in a period of 23 to 26 seconds.
Harry Dunn’s mother Charlotte Charles, 19, and stepfather Bruce Charles (right) leave Westminster Magistrates’ Court
/ PA
“While the Crown recognizes objectively driving on the wrong side of the road – putting vulnerable road users such as motorcyclists at risk – can amount to dangerous driving, the subjective culpability of the offender must also be considered.
“In particular, the culpability of foreign nationals with no experience of driving on this country’s roads can properly be seen as less than that of UK nationals who are more familiar with our road laws.
“The prosecution took into account this and other mitigating measures available to the defendant and the balance of the interests of justice. It was considered at a very high level with the utmost care and in close consultation with Harry’s family.
“The Crown considers a plea of death by careless driving, in the particular circumstances and facts of this case, to be appropriate.”
Mr Dunne’s tragic death sparked an international diplomatic row as Sakoulas, the wife of CIA officer Jonathan Sakoulas, left the UK 19 days after the crash.
Her husband was stationed at RAF Croughton and diplomatic immunity was claimed on his wife’s behalf when she was allowed to leave the country.
Mr Dunn’s parents, Charlotte Charles and Tim Dunn, have launched a campaign to bring Sakoulas to justice in the UK.
On a trip to America, they were met at the White House by then-President Donald Trump, who hounded them with the news that Sakoulas was in the next room waiting to speak with them.
“The bombshell was dropped shortly after we entered the room: Anne Sakoulas was in the building and wanted to meet us,” Ms Charles said afterwards, revealing that they had canceled the meeting as it was unexpected and she was about to conducted without mediators or therapists.
“We have made it very clear that, as we have said all along, we will meet her and we would still like to meet her, but it has to be on our terms and on UK soil.”
The family have consistently said that justice will only be served once Sakulas is brought to justice in the UK.
The US blocked an attempt to extradite Sakoulas to the UK to face trial, and the family’s High Court legal action against the Foreign Office over the decision to let her leave ultimately failed.
The Death of Harry Dunn
/ BKP Archive
Sacoolas was criminally charged by the Crown Prosecution Service in December 2019, but the case was stayed until a trial at Westminster Magistrates’ Court was scheduled for January this year.
However, the hearing was adjourned to allow for further talks between prosecutors and Sakoulas’ lawyers.
A new hearing was eventually arranged for last month and Sakoolas was formally charged in a letter on September 26. She appeared via video link from her attorney’s office in Washington to make her first appearance on a charge of causing death by dangerous driving.
Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring sent the case to the Old Bailey and warned Sakoulas that he may have to fly to the UK if a senior judge does not allow the case to proceed via video link.
However, Sakoulas was back in court today via video link from the US, pleading guilty to a lesser charge of causing death by careless driving.
In pre-prepared closing remarks for the hearing, Ms Justice Chima Grubb said today that she had already received written submissions from the prosecution and defense on the possible sentences Sakoulas could receive.
She said a recent change in the law meant Sacoolas could properly face justice via video link from abroad, but added: “Just because the power exists doesn’t mean it will be exercised.”
“It is accepted that any sentence I impose is likely to be unenforceable while the defendant remains outside the UK,” the judge said.
She said showing remorse would be “powerful mitigation” and encouraged Sakoulas to fly to the UK for the sentencing hearing.
“Attention was rightly drawn to the remorse shown by Ms Sacoolas in assisting the proceedings at all,” she said.
“Despite her sentence today, there is no order I can make to compel her to appear at the Central Criminal Court for sentencing.
“At the same time, there is no bar to her traveling to the UK to appear in court to be sentenced. None are offered.
“I order Ms. Sakoulas to appear in court in person to receive the sentence. If the sentence is… one that does not include immediate detention, there will be no bar to her returning home after the hearing.
The judge added: “Surrender to the court would provide strong evidence of genuine remorse.”
In a September 2020 statement, Sacoolas’ U.S. attorneys said she was open to participating in virtual court proceedings and “never sought to avoid being held accountable for the tragic incident.”
“She wants nothing more than to find a way forward and give the family some measure of peace,” they said, outlining what happened before and immediately after the crash.
“Anne did everything she could to help Harry. After the accident, she ran out of her car and tried to help him,” the statement said.
“Anne then saw another driver approaching and flagged her down for more support.
“The other driver immediately called the emergency services and Ann called to alert the police from a nearby air force base.
“The base police arrived quickly and helped Harry.
Court painter’s drawing of US citizen Ann Sakulas, 45 (right on TV screen) Harry Dunn’s killer
/ PA
“Tragically, it took more than 40 minutes for the ambulance to arrive and it was nearly two hours before Harry was admitted to hospital.
“Anne did not leave the scene until instructed to do so by UK authorities.”
Mr Dunn’s family sued Sacoolas in the US in a case which was settled privately in September last year.
Add Comment