From The Guardian

Harry Dunn’s mother ‘unspeakably hurt’ that son’s killer will not attend inquest

"Harry Dunn’s mother has said she is “unspeakably hurt” that her son’s killer, Anne Sacoolas, has refused to attend the inquest into his death, saying it was “bitterly disappointing and, as a mother, utterly incomprehensible”.

An inquest into Dunn’s death opened on Monday, almost five years after the 19-year-old was killed when his motorcycle collided head-on with a vehicle driven by Sacoolas that was on the wrong side of the road outside a US military based in Northamptonshire in August 2019.

Last year, Northamptonshire coroner Anne Pember invited Sacoolas to attend the inquest remotely, an offer which “had not been taken up”, the inquest heard. Her evidence will now be read out in court instead.

Speaking through tears, Charlotte Charles, Dunn’s mother, told the hearing that “learning that Anne Sacoolas will not be attending Harry’s inquest this week was bitterly disappointing and, as a mother, is utterly incomprehensible to me”.

“She could have chosen to give me and our family this opportunity to finally understand what led to Harry’s death that night. But no,” she said. “I am unspeakably hurt that she has chosen to hide instead and it cannot help but feel disrespectful to Harry, the life he had and the future he lost.”

Inquest proceedings were delayed due to a years-long fight by Dunn’s family to bring criminal charges against Sacoolas, who had diplomatic immunity asserted on her behalf by the US and left the UK 19 days after Dunn’s death.

The family’s campaign for justice included meeting Donald Trump at the White House to ask the then president to review a decision to block an extradition request for Sacoolas."