Harry Dunn’s mother continues to live with ‘immense sense of loss’ five years on
Charlotte Charles said she was ‘beginning to learn how to move forward’ on the fifth anniversary of his death.
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The mother of teenage motorcyclist Harry Dunn has said she continues to live with “an immense sense of loss” on the fifth anniversary of her son’s death.
The 19-year-old was killed in a road crash outside RAF Croughton in Northamptonshire in August 2019, which eventually led to US citizen Anne Sacoolas being sentenced for causing death by careless driving.
The case attracted international attention after diplomatic immunity was initially asserted on behalf of Sacoolas, allowing her to leave the UK 19 days after the collision.
The Dunn family are expected to meet Foreign Secretary David Lammy next month ahead of an inquiry into the previous government’s handling of the case.
Mr Dunn’s death led the family on a three-year fight for justice, which included a meeting with former US president Donald Trump at the White House.
Speaking five years after Mr Dunn’s death, his mother Charlotte Charles told the PA news agency she was “beginning to learn how to move forward”.
She said: “I’ll always be a mum of twins, even if one joined the angels five years ago today.
“I will continue to live with an immense sense of loss that I’ll not move on from, ever.
“My heart hurts, aches, and I feel Harry’s loss physically too.
I will continue to live with an immense sense of loss that I’ll not move on from, ever.
“However, I’m beginning to learn how to move forward and that’s the best I can ask for right now.”
Mrs Charles and Harry’s father Tim Dunn have been promised an inquiry by the Government into the handling of their son’s death.
She continued: “My team have been working hard on the inquiry that is coming up and I am so glad that some good will come from Harry’s loss.
“It seems immense to me that the Foreign Office have already acknowledged that they need to change their approach to victims and that is testament to the power of our campaign for justice.
“I’m looking forward to helping them do better next time.”
Sacoolas appeared before a High Court judge at the Old Bailey by video-link in December 2022, where she pleaded guilty to causing death by careless driving.
She was advised against attending her sentencing hearing by her employer, and Mr Dunn’s family said they were “horrified” that the US government was “actively interfering in our criminal justice system”.
Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb handed Sacoolas an eight-month prison sentence, suspended for 12 months.
The Dunn family’s spokesman Radd Seiger said they would continue to work with authorities “so that no stone is left unturned in ensuring there is no repeat” of the case.
He told PA: “The American government did their best to sweep his death under the carpet.
“They only succeeded in embarrassing themselves on the world stage in the process. They will not abuse another British citizen’s rights again in this way.
“Harry’s legacy is already cemented in that respect and his family can take pride and comfort in that as we continue to work with the authorities so that no stone is left unturned in ensuring that there is no repeat, and that the world is a safer place after Harry’s loss.”