The United States government has requested a Virginia court to impose a protective order, preventing the disclosure of the employment details of Harry Dunn’s alleged killer after the victim’s parents filed damage claims. The authorities say that disclosure will have an impact on national security

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Harry Dunn, a 19-year-old, died in August 2019 after being hit by  Anne Sacoolas’ car outside a US military base in Northamptonshire, UK. Sacoolas, 43 and her husband were employed by the US State Department at the time and returned to the United States three weeks after the crash. The alleged killer was driving on the wrong side of the road, as observed on CCTV footage. She was charged with causing death by dangerous driving. However, a Home Office extradition request was rejected by the US state department in January 2020. She had claimed diplomatic immunity. Her immunity was challenged after reports emerged that Sacoolas had been employed by a US intelligence agency at the time of the crash. 

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Dunn’s parents, Charles and Tim gave legal testimony earlier this month in their damages claim against Sacoolas. Countering the claim, the US order states, “although defendants were employees of the United States government at the time of the crash, information concerning the United States government has little to no relevance to an adjudication of any remaining issues in this case”.

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“In general terms, the United States seeks protection … because of the impact the disclosure of information regarding the government in this litigation could reasonably be expected to have on national security,” it added. 

Dunn family’s spokesperson, Radd Seiger said that the US government the motion will be resisted strenuously.

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“It now appears that Mr and Mrs Sacoolas have brought in their employers, the US government, to help them minimise what happened to Harry on the night he died in an attempt to prevent both the family and public at large from knowing the full truth,” the Guardian quoted Seiger. 

UK foreign secretary, Dominic Raab, has asked for a virtual trial, which could allow her to face some form of punishment in the US rather than being extradited to the UK. Sacoolas’ deposition in the case is due next month.