Harry Dunn's killer is to be sentenced live on TV despite the court confirming she will not be attending in person.
Anne Sacoolas will be sentenced at the Old Bailey on Thursday, after crashing her Volvo and killing the 19-year-old motorcyclist while driving on the wrong side of a road in Northampton in August 2019.
The hearing will join a handful of previous sentencings so far this year which, for the first time in British legal history, have been broadcast for the public.
Ms Sacoolas caused uproar in 2019 when she fled to the US claiming diplomatic immunity and evaded justice.
The 45-year-old pleaded guilty to causing death by careless driving in October this year, where sentencing judge Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb urged her to return to Britain to face justice.
But, confirming a renewed application for her to appear via video-link has been granted, a court spokesman said: "The application made jointly by the prosecution and defence for Mrs Sacoolas to participate and be sentenced by live link has been renewed.
"The defence have supplied material in support of the application, including evidence that Mrs Sacoolas's government employer has advised her not to attend in person.
"The judge has granted the application."
The news has prompted a furious response from Harry's family, who described it as a "cowardly act".
Reacting to the news that the US Government had advised Anne Sacoolas not to attend court, the Dunn family’s spokesman Radd Seiger said: “Harry’s family are victims of a serious crime and they have been kept in the dark completely about what is to come at Thursday’s hearing since Mrs Sacoolas’ guilty plea on October 20.
“We are horrified to learn that the United States Government is now actively interfering in our criminal justice system.
“Their ongoing cruel treatment of Harry’s parents is nothing short of inhumane and it continues to take a heavy toll on their mental health.
“If there is a genuine reason why Mrs Sacoolas should not appear in court on Thursday, as directed by the judge, then the parents would happily accept that.
“But, on the face of it, it appears that this is nothing short of a cowardly act on the part of an oppressor.
“I have today asked for an urgent meeting with the Foreign Secretary James Cleverly to understand what action the British Government intends to take in response.”
Sacoolas has attended both previous court hearings via video-link from her lawyer's offices in Washington DC.
Adjourning sentencing at the previous hearing, Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb told Sacoolas although she could not compel her to face justice in person, it would provide "weighty evidence" of "genuine remorse".
After a plea was entered, Mr Dunn's mother Charlotte Charles said "of course" she wants Sacoolas to return to the UK to be sentenced.
Sacoolas is due to be sentenced at 10am on Thursday, December 8, which will be broadcast on Sky News (Sky channel 501, Virgin 603, BT 313 and Freeview 233). The hearing will also be broadcast by BBC News, available on Sky channel 503, Virgin 601, BT 231 and Freeview 231.
