Anne Sacoolas, 45, the wife of an American diplomat, pleaded guilty to causing the death of 19-year-old motorcyclist Harry Dunn by careless driving at the Old Bailey.
In 2019, Sacoolas was charged with the death of a British teen in Croughton, England. Prosecutors had been pursuing a more serious charge of causing death by dangerous driving before the plea deal.
Prosecutors believe Sacoolas was behind the car’s wheel that collided with Dunn’s motorcycle.
Sacoolas sparked international outrage when she fled the country 19 days after the crash on August 27, 2019, claiming diplomatic immunity. British authorities and Dunn’s parents publicly advocated for Sacoolas’ extradition back to the United Kingdom to face charges.
Police from the United Kingdom travelled to the United States to question Sacoolas months after the crash, with then-President Donald Trump speaking about it in October 2019, calling it a “terrible accident” but admitting it was a “very complex issue” due to Sacoolas’ claim of diplomatic immunity. Trump addressed the case after meeting with the 19-year-parents, old’s Tim Dunn and Charlotte Charles, at the White House.
Sacoolas also visited the White House, but Dunn’s parents refused to meet with her unless she agreed to return to the United Kingdom to face charges.
On Thursday, Sacoolas entered a guilty plea via video from Washington, D.C. She also appeared via video during a status hearing on September 29. She chose not to speak except to confirm her name.
The U.S. has consistently refused to extradite Sacoolas to the U.K. but has agreed to hold the trial via video link.
Following Sacoolas’ plea on Thursday, the judge scheduled her sentencing for late November and requested that she appear in person. It’s unclear whether she will attend, but the judge admitted that any sentence would be unenforceable if she stayed in the country.
Dunn’s parents eventually settled a civil suit in the United States in September 2021. The settlement terms were not disclosed.
