US diplomat’s wife Anne Sacoolas fled UK ‘on a private flight from US air base’ after ‘killing 19-year-old man while driving on wrong side of the road’
THE wife of a US diplomat accused of killing a teenager while driving on the wrong side of the road was flown out of Britain on a private flight from an American air base, it emerged today.
Anne Sacoolas, 42, is believed to have collided with 19-year-old motorcyclist Harry Dunn as she left RAF Croughton in Northamptonshire, in August.
The mum-of-three pleaded diplomatic immunity under the Vienna Convention and fled the UK – despite her name not appearing on the official London diplomatic list.
It is believed Mrs Sacoolas, her husband and three children were flown out of Mildenhall, the US air base in Suffolk, reports
However, Northampton Police - the force investigating the crash - said yesterday they had no idea how she had left the country.
Mrs Sacoolas had only been in Britain for three weeks and it is thought she forgot to drive on the left when she collided with the teenager.
PRIVATE PLANE HOME
The family has since touched down in the US but has avoided detection at their home in Virginia, close to the CIA headquarters in Langley.
Harry's parents Charlotte Charles and Tim Dunn yesterday pleaded with her to return to Britain to face justice.
They added they would be prepared for her to face a lesser charge of causing death by careless driving - rather than the more serious charge of death by dangerous driving.
It has since emerged that Mrs Sacoolas is set to be charged over the crash - and Harry's mum has vowed to travel to the States to ensure she faces justice.
Northamptonshire Police have now passed a file to the CPS to decide on whether to prosecute her for causing death by dangerous driving.
I think there's a fair chance they successfully sue the US government
Professor David Glazier
Police and Crime Commissioner Steve Mold said: “I would expect something back within 48 hours.
“This may or may not kick-start extradition proceedings — but this is quite an unprecedented situation.”
Meanwhile, a top lawyer has said Harry’s family could now try and sue the US government over the case.
American international law expert Professor David Glazier told The Sun Online: "There's a strong case to be made that if the US government is asserting immunity on behalf of this person then the US government assumes liability for their conduct.
"When the individual receives immunity for conduct related to their official business - so if she were driving and it had something to do with their official duties - then the immunity is lifelong.
"But when an individual is engaged in personal conduct, the immunity only lasts for the period of time they're assigned to that country.
DRIVING CONVICTIONS
"So in theory, now she's back in the United States, her immunity should likely be considered to have ended and that should mean she's subject to civil suits."
He added: "I think there's a fair chance they successfully sue the US government."
It comes after The Sun Online revealed that Mrs Sacoolas and her husband - believed to be a US spy - have racked up a string of driving convictions in the States before moving to the UK.
She was even once convicted of running through a level crossing, while her husband was rapped for speeding and ignoring traffic signs.
MOST READ IN NEWS
It was revealed yesterday that Sacoolas was found guilty of "failure to pay full time and attention" at the end of 2006 in Fairfax County, Virginia.
But Sun Online has since discovered she was also convicted of "disregarding" an "RR" or "railroad" signal in the state of South Carolina in 1997, according to Richland County court filings.
The teen's heartbroken mum and dad have appealed to the US government to intervene in the case and ensure justice can be done.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has also threatened to raise the issue with the White House if necessary.
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