The family of Harry Dunn will hold a second funeral for the teenager after police returned his belongings, which had been thought to have been destroyed in the crash that claimed his life four years ago. Charlotte Charles, Harry’s mother, had asked for her son’s possessions in 2019, stating that it would allow the family to keep connected to her son. However, officers claimed that everything had been destroyed in the collision that killed Harry. The family’s spokesman was informed before Christmas that several items, including clothing and the frame of Harry’s bike, had in fact been “frozen and preserved” and would be returned to the family once criminal proceedings had concluded.
However, as the items were returned, the family discovered that human tissue had been found on Harry’s clothing, leading to the need for a second cremation service. Ms Charles said, “It has really hit me hard and I’ve had to go back on antidepressants. As if that weren’t bad enough, as the items of clothing were being returned, some of Harry’s tissue was also discovered on his clothing and we only found that out a couple of weeks ago. We are now, therefore, having to go through a second cremation service on Friday and we are all re-traumatised. It just all feels so unfair.”
The handling of the case has led to an investigation by Northamptonshire Police into their protocols and communication. The family’s spokesman spoke out against the police, saying that they had “let down” the family. A police spokesperson stated that Harry’s belongings were removed from the collision site in 2019 and that when the belongings were examined to be returned to the family, human remains were discovered on Harry’s clothing. Police then returned the remains to a funeral director at the family’s request.
Det Chief Supt Emma James stated that she would meet with Harry’s family in the coming days to “ensure complete transparency”. The family has called for Anne Sacoolas, who was driving on the wrong side of the road when the crash occurred, to face justice. Sacoolas, who is the wife of a US intelligence official, left the UK claiming diplomatic immunity and has not returned to face charges
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