Harry Dunn’s family blasted the US government after they were forced to endure a three-year wait for justice for their teenage son.
They spoke to the media on the steps of the Old Bailey after American Anne Sacoolas was handed a suspended prison sentence on Thursday afternoon for causing the 19-year-old’s death by careless driving.
Sacoolas had been urged to come face-to-face with Mr Dunn’s family at the sentencing hearing, but opted instead to appear via videolink from Washington DC.
The Harry’s mother Charlotte Charles said: “She should have been there. We would have been. I think it’s despicable she didn’t come over.”
Speaking outside the Old Bailey, family spokesman Radd Seiger said: “Our real enemy here isn't Anne Sacoolas, our real enemy here is the US government.”
Ms Charles said she was “grateful” for the judge's words during the sentencing, adding that her “promise” to get justice for her son “is well and truly complete”.
She went on: “Harry just disappeared out of my life that night, shattering my existence forever.
"His passing haunts me every minute of every day and I'm not sure how I'm ever going to get over it."I made a promise to Harry in the hospital that we would get him justice and a mother never breaks a promise to her son."
Sacoolas was given an eight month sentence after her driving on the wrong side of the road outside US military base RAF Croughton in Northamptonshire on August 2, 2019 - and fatally hitting Mr Dunn, who was riding a motorbike.
He was taken to the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford, where he died later that night.
Sacoolas had diplomatic immunity asserted on her behalf by the US government and was able to leave the UK 19 days after the incident.
In October, she appeared in court by video link from the US to plead guilty to causing Mr Dunn's death by careless driving.
In her sentencing, Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb paid tribute to the Dunn family.
She told Sacoolas: "There is no doubt that the calm and dignified persistence of these parents and family of that young man has led through three years of heartbreak and effort to your appearance before this court and acknowledge your guilt."
The judge said Mr Dunn’s death was the “highest degree of harm” but added: “I bear in mind this was a short period of driving and you were not familiar with English roads.
“I accept you feel genuine remorse.”
In mitigation, her lawyer Ben Cooper KC read a statement on her behalf in which she said she was "deeply sorry for the pain I have caused".
