HARRY PLEA
Harry Dunn begged ‘don’t let me die’ after being knocked off his motorbike by Anne Sacoolas in killer crash
THE mum of tragic teen Harry Dunn declared “We’ve done it, we’re good” after his killer was sentenced yesterday.
Charlotte Charles also insisted it was “Job done” after fighting to see Anne Sacoolas face justice.
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The US citizen, 45, had mown down biker Harry while on the wrong side of the road and was charged with causing death by dangerous driving over the death of Harry in a head-on smash near RAF Croughton on August 27 2019.
She then fled back to her homeland, claiming diplomatic immunity.
A court heard Harry, 19, repeatedly begged "don't let me die" as he lay in the road following the 2019 head-on crash.
In October Sacoolas admitted causing death by careless driving.
Today, appearing at the Old Bailey via videolink - as she also did when she pleaded guilty - she got a suspended eight-month jail sentence and a 12-month driving ban.
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Outside court Charlotte, 46, insisted: “Job done, promise complete. Anne Sacoolas has a criminal record for the rest of her life.
“So, Harry, we’ve done it. We’re good.”
Sacoolas, of Washington DC, had turned out of RAF Croughton and drove on the wrong side of the road for over 20 seconds.
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She hit Harry while driving her Volvo XC90 as she pulled out of the air station in Northants.
And back in October this year she pleaded guilty to causing the death of 19-year-old Harry by careless driving in the fatal road crash.
Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb ruled that her sentence would be suspended for twelve months and she would be disqualified from driving during this period.
The court heard how Harry begged "don't let me die" while lying in agony after the incident.
Justice Cheema-Grubb said "a moment's inattention can lead to tragedy" but that does not apply in this case.
And the judge added that Sacoolas's driving on the day Harry died is "not far short of deliberately dangerous driving".
Prosecutor Duncan Atkinson KC said Anne Sacoolas told police at the scene she had "made a mistake" and that she was "so stupid".
Continuing his opening of the case, Mr Atkinson said: "The defendant remained at the scene and she spoke to police.
"The police observed that the defendant had her head in her hands and was crying.
"She told them she had 'made a mistake' and said 'I was so stupid'.
"The police confirmed that she complied fully with their requests at the scene.
"She acknowledged she was driving on the wrong side of the road."
Mr Atkinson later said that a motorist who witnessed the harrowing scene said: "He was face down, but conscious. He repeatedly said 'don't let me die'."
Ms Sacoolas is the wife of US diplomat Jonathan Sacoolas who was stationed on the US intelligence base at RAF Croughton in 2019.
Mr Atkinson said Ms Sacoolas drove 350 metres for some 26 seconds on the wrong side of the road after turning from the air base.
He added that she failed to recognise road markings which should have alerted her to this error.
The prosecutor told the court: "Faced with an oncoming motorcycle, there was no opportunity to avoid a head-on collision."
She said: "I started driving and a short distance.. ahead I remember seeing Harry, being confused, and the accident happening all, you know, at the same time really."
Having got her children out of the car, she went to help the stricken motorcyclist.
She said: "He made a comment that he was driving on his side of the road.
"It was when I got my kids to the side of the road that I realised what happened.
"It wasn't until that point that I realised that I had driven on the American side of the road versus UK side."
Mr Atkinson told the court: "Faced with an oncoming motorcycle, there was no opportunity to avoid a head-on collision."
Sacoolas had diplomatic immunity asserted on her behalf by the US government after the crash and was able to leave the UK 19 days after the incident.
Sentencing Sacoolas, Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb told the defendant: "The impact with the front of your car threw him onto the front of your car, and over it and onto the road.
"You got out, realised what had happened and you were very distressed.
"You confirmed to the police that what happened was your fault and you had been on the wrong side of the road.
"You were not arrested at the time, you did not remain in the United Kingdom ... and you submitted to a voluntary interview with police in Washington DC.
"A request for your extradition was submitted in 2020, it was denied."
Charlotte said: “I think it’s despicable she didn’t come over on the judge’s order. Huge coward.”
Continuing her sentencing remarks, Mrs Justice Cheema Grubb told Anne Sacoolas: "There is no doubt that the calm and dignified persistence of these parents and family of that young man has led through three years of heartbreak and effort to your appearance before this court and acknowledge your guilt."
In a statement read by her lawyer Ben Cooper KC, Sacoolas said she was "deeply sorry for the pain I have caused".
MUM'S AGONY
Harry Dunn's mother broke down as she told the court her son's death "haunts me every minute of every day".
Sacoolas appeared to wipe away a tear as Harry's mum Charlotte Charles read her victim impact statement at the Old Bailey.
Speaking about how her son's death had affected her, Mrs Charles told the court: "My world turned upside down on August 27 2019.
"My beautiful son Harry, twin brother of Niall, is gone and is never coming back.
"For 19 years, I had the enormous privilege and joy of nurturing and raising Harry who was the light of my life before he was so senselessly and cruelly taken from us.
Harry just disappeared out of my life that night, shattering my existence forever.
Charlotte Charles
"Harry just disappeared out of my life that night, shattering my existence forever.
"I didn't make it to the hospital in time before he passed and the thought of that haunts me to my core.
"I beat myself up over and over again - if I had left work on time that night, I would have been able to delay him leaving the house so that he wouldn't have been travelling along the same road as Anne Sacoolas.
"Although I have my other beautiful son Niall with me and the rest of my family, there is an intense feeling of emptiness in the pit of my stomach without my cheerful Harry around."
Mrs Charles added she was “grateful” for the judge’s words during the sentencing of Anne Sacoolas, adding that her “promise” to get justice for her son “is well and truly complete”.
After sentence, a Sky journalist asked Sacoolas: “What words do you have for Harry Dunn’s family?”
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She replied: “Have a nice day.”
Harry’s family want an inquest and Parliamentary probe into his death.
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