Harry Dunn suspect requests to be interviewed under caution

Anne Sacoolas left the UK while claiming diplomatic immunity after being involved in a car accident that killed the 19-year-old outside a US military base in Northampton on August 27. She later admitted that she had been driving on the wrong side of the road.

Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday morning (October 22), Northamptonshire Police Chief Constable Nick Adderley said officers from his force would shortly be travelling to the US at the request of Ms Sacoolas.

Mr Adderley said: “Lawyers have clearly stated that the suspect wants to be personally interviewed by officers from Northamptonshire Police in order for them to see her and the devastation this has caused her and her family.

“She did not want to provide a pre-prepared statement, which is her right to do so. We do understand from colleagues in the US that the family is utterly devastated.”

He added that his officers were in the process of obtaining visas to enable them to travel and carry out the interview.

Although Ms Sacoolas has been widely identified, Mr Adderley said that police would not be naming the suspect until the file of evidence was complete.

“A file of evidence has been handed to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) but as you will appreciate that file is incomplete; you can’t complete the file until you have an account from the suspect and that is one of the reasons why we are not naming her”, he said.

Mr Adderley added: “From the police’s point of view we have to make sure we maintain the integrity of all of the evidence and that it is not skewed by [the diplomatic immunity debate] to ensure a fair trial should we get to an extradition position and she comes back to the UK. We don’t want to jeopardise that by not affording her a fair trial.”

Mr Adderley admitted that the suspect being in the US had frustrated the investigation, but denied that it had stalled it.

“This investigation has not stalled, it has not slowed down”, he said. “The suspect not being in the county clearly frustrates the investigation, but it does not stop it.”

Mr Adderley also called on Radd Seiger, the spokesperson for Mr Dunn’s family, to “exercise constraint”.

He said: “I urge the family spokesman to exercise constraint in his commentary as the case moves forward. I understand the emotion and I understand the anxiety, I also understand the will and the want for answers to questions the family are asking.”

Mr Adderley had previously taken to Twitter on Monday evening saying: “I am aware of the emotion and anxiety surrounding the tragic death of Harry Dunn. At all times Northamptonshire Police has acted with the upmost integrity and transparency and I have taken personal oversight of this investigation supported by Superintendent Sarah Johnson.”

He added: “There are many questions being asked of the police, which would be wholly inappropriate to speculate on in order to maintain impartiality and to allow the investigating officers and CPS to do their job.”

Mr Dunn’s family were due to meet with Mr Adderley on Wednesday but were told he could not say anything more than offering his condolences. The meeting has since been cancelled.