Anne Sacoolas, the wife of a US intelligence officer, was charged with causing death by dangerous driving after a crash in August last year.
The Dunn family’s constituency MP Andrea Leadsom claimed, in a letter to Ms Patel on Monday, a remote trial is a “way to achieve closure”.
Sacoolas, 42, could serve any jail sentence in the US under the existing prisoner transfer deal, she added.
She claimed diplomatic immunity following the collision outside RAF Croughton, Northants, and was able to return to the States, sparking an international controversy.
Mrs Leadsom also sent her plea for remote proceedings, or alternatively a trial in Sacoolas’s absence, to the Solicitor General, the Foreign Secretary, the Crown Prosecution Service and the Lord Chancellor.
Radd Seiger, the family’s spokesman, said they “would not object” at a decision to conduct a remote trial.
Mrs Leadsom in the letter said: “The family are very anxious to obtain closure on these terrible events and seek urgent comments on the possibility of the trial of Anne Sacoolas virtually or in her absence.”
Harry’s family said their “final goodbye” to their 19-year-old son last month as they scattered his ashes in his favourite place – Portland Bill near Weymouth in Dorset.
His mother Charlotte Charles said: “How justice is administered is not a matter for me but I’m grateful to Andrea for working hard on our behalf to ensure justice is done.
“I can see she has written to the authorities suggesting Anne Sacoolas is tried remotely from the US and we’re grateful for her looking at ways in which justice can be achieved.”
An extradition request submitted by the Home Office for Sacoolas was rejected by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in January. The US State Department called the decision “final” despite the loophole, which had allowed Sacoolas to claim diplomatic immunity, being closed by both countries last month.
Ms Leadsom added: “Now the ‘loophole’ that allowed Ms Sacoolas to claim diplomatic immunity has been closed, it must be clear the claim of immunity was wrong.”
The Home Office was approached for comment. The Attorney General’s Office confirmed a letter had been received but declined to comment.
COMMENT by Andrea Leadsom, The Dunn family’s MP
IT is almost a year since the death of Harry Dunn near RAF Croughton in my constituency. His family have been grieving but at the same time showing their determination to achieve justice.
They want to make sure that no other family will ever have to go through the pain they have experienced. Losing a son, grandson and brother to a horrific car crash is terrible, but to see the person, who inadvertently caused it, walk away from justice has added immeasurably to their pain.
Harry’s family have asked me to seek a virtual trial to help them obtain the closure that they need.
As their MP and with agreement, I have written to ministers asking that they support the family’s calls for justice and such proceedings.
This could see Anne Sacoolas remain in America and be tried in the presence of a virtual UK court.
If a custodial or any other sentence was to be granted, it could be served in the US under the existing prisoner transfer agreement. A virtual trial would not undermine the US decision to deny the extradition request nor their decision to deny a waiver of diplomatic immunity.
It could bring a resolution, most importantly, for Harry’s family.
Ms Sacoolas was able to claim diplomatic immunity, which is why it is good that our Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab has now successfully closed this loophole. It is clear that Ms Sacoolas must face the responsibility of her actions, as anyone would expect if they accidentally drove on the wrong side of the road resulting in the death of a lovely young person with all his life ahead of him.
Harry’s family are not vengeful, but like all of us, they understand clearly the difference between right and wrong.
