The United States has declined Britain's request for the extradition of a U.S. diplomat's wife who was involved in an August car crash that killed a British teenager, the State Department said on Thursday.
"At the time the accident occurred, and for the duration of her stay in the U.K., the U.S. citizen driver in this case had immunity from criminal jurisdiction," a State Department representative said in a statement.
"If the United States were to grant the U.K.’s extradition request, it would render the invocation of diplomatic immunity a practical nullity and would set an extraordinarily troubling precedent," the statement said.
British police say Harry Dunn, 19, died when he was hit by a car driven by Anne Sacoolas, whose husband was stationed at a U.S. military base in England. Sacoolas claimed diplomatic immunity and left Britain after the crash.
Dunn's family has urged her to return and face British justice and met President Donald Trump as part of their campaign.
Britain's Crown Prosecution Service said it had authorized police to charge Sacoolas with causing death by dangerous driving “following a thorough review of the evidence available.”
Newsmax contributed to this report.
© 2023 Thomson/Reuters. All rights reserved.