Harry Dunn's parents lodge complaint against Crown Prosecution Service over 'inhumane treatment'
His mother Charlotte Charles tells Sky News: "I just don't understand why they are keeping us in the dark about what is going on."
Thursday 7 May 2020 16:14, UK
The parents of Harry Dunn have brought a formal complaint against the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), claiming their treatment has been "inhumane".
Mr Dunn, 19, was killed in a head on collision with American Anne Sacoolas near RAF Croughton in Northamptonshire, a US intelligence base, last August.
She later claimed diplomatic immunity and returned to the US. Sky News has confirmed she had a background in the CIA.
In December, the CPS charged Mrs Sacoolas with causing Mr Dunn's death by dangerous driving.
But the following month the US turned down an extradition request, and the family say they have heard nothing further from the CPS.
Mr Dunn's mother Charlotte Charles told Sky News: "I just don't understand why they are keeping us in the dark about what is going on. We know we have rights.
"They clearly do not understand on any level how much additional suffering their treatment of us is causing. It's inhumane. If they did, they would make sure we were being kept informed.
"They tell us they care about us and that they know how painful this must be. Those are just empty words to me. Shame on them."
The family's spokesman Radd Seiger described the case as the "most serious and wholesale breach of the Victims' Code that I've come across and it is totally unacceptable".
Mr Seiger said Mr Dunn's parents had been left with no option but to bring a formal complaint against the CPS through their MP Andrea Leadsom.
He said: "The CPS' treatment of this family is beyond appalling. There is no excuse for it.
"This is a difficult and complex case but they must comply with the Victims' Code and find a way to balance the need for Mrs Sacoolas to have a fair trial with the interests and rights of the parents.
"They have made no attempt to contact the parents since the extradition request was rejected on 23 January, over three months ago.
"Victims of crime used to be forgotten in the process. Those days are gone. In filing the complaint, we will make sure that the CPS treat the parents as they should do, not as some sort of inconvenience to be overlooked as they purse the case".
A spokeswoman for the CPS said: "We have kept Harry Dunn's family up to date at all stages and the Director of Public Prosecutions has met with them to explain the charging decision in person.
"We have worked to meet the Victim's Code at all times."