Big update tonight on Harry Dunn's parents' Judicial Review claim against the Foreign Office and Northamptonshire police (thread)
The family have just launched a @CrowdJustice - currently are at risks of tens of thousands of govt costs if they lose crowdjustice.com/case/harrydunn/
The family have just launched a @CrowdJustice - currently are at risks of tens of thousands of govt costs if they lose crowdjustice.com/case/harrydunn/
USA rejected UK’s extradition request for Anne Sacoolas, who was driving the car on the wrong side of the road that hit Harry’s motorcycle. The US rejected for one reason: they say Sacoolas (who we now think was a CIA officer) had diplomatic immunity at the time. /2
Charlotte and Tim’s case is that Anne Sacoolas *never* had diplomatic immunity. That’s because the secret 1995 treaty between the US and UK giving up to 200 American staff at RAF Croughton did not mention family members and in any case waived immunity for non-official acts. /3
The case is important for 3 reasons.
First,
First,
Second,
Third,
Our argument is that there is no prerogative power to grant immunities to family members outside recognised principles of international law. No precedent we can find of family members having more immunity. Parliament can’t have intended for Foreign Office to have such powers. /7
The court will also be asked to rule on the correct procedure for the Foreign Office and police to follow after an incident like this. We say that if the position was unclear (e.g. if there is an 'anomaly') then the FCO/police shouldn't have allowed Anne Sacoolas to leave /8
The next step is the police and Foreign Office will provide 'detailed grounds of defence' by Friday and then there will be a 'rolled up' hearing to decide the case. There will also be a preliminary hearing if the family remain dissatisfied with the amount of disclosure /9
Family have expert legal team: @markslarks, Geoffrey Robertson QC and me, + two professors - to fight their case, . Foreign Office have the govt’s top lawyer Sir James Eadie QC, professor QC and junior. FCO have said they seek full costs from the family if they don’t succeed. /8
This crowdfunder is to protect the family from the potential £75k+ bill if this case goes to the Supreme Court as we think it will, as well as paying very reduced rates for their own legal team. Please consider supporting. Thank you /end crowdjustice.com/case/harrydunn/
