UK - US Diplomat's wife leaves UK after killing Harry Dunn, age 19, Northampton, Sept 2019 *suspended sentence*

[dixiegirl1035]

Harry Dunn's parents react as Anne Sacoolas is charged

 

[tresir2012]

Harry Dunn’s family meets Home Secretary as extradition process begins

"Ms Sacoolas, 42, and her family had been based at RAF Croughton in Northamptonshire and she sparked public outrage after her car allegedly hit the 19-year-old on August 27.

The US suspect claimed diplomatic immunity due to her husband’s job.

It was only after she left the UK on a military flight directly from the air base that the Foreign Office wrote to the family to say immunity in her case was not valid."

More at link.

 

[musicaljoke]

Not so easily I think....the British government can't do something like that to somebody who's an American citizen

Oh my! Are you under the impression that American citizens have some kind of immunity?

 

[alexia98]

Oh my! Are you under the impression that American citizens have some kind of immunity?

Absolutely not but this woman is not an "ordinary" American citizen. She's married to a diplomat (a maybe she has diplomatic immunity too)

 

[alexia98]

Harry Dunn’s family meets Home Secretary as extradition process begins

"Ms Sacoolas, 42, and her family had been based at RAF Croughton in Northamptonshire and she sparked public outrage after her car allegedly hit the 19-year-old on August 27.

The US suspect claimed diplomatic immunity due to her husband’s job.

It was only after she left the UK on a military flight directly from the air base that the Foreign Office wrote to the family to say immunity in her case was not valid."

More at link.

So the US government says she has diplomatic immunity and the UK government says in her case immunity is not valid...
Poor Harry Dunn's family...I fear that now they have a tough nut to crack

 

[Elainera]

So the US government says she has diplomatic immunity and the UK government says in her case immunity is not valid...

Will the question of immunity be decided by a court? If so, in which country?

 

[Reasonable & Just]

I would be ashamed if we sheltered this woman from her actions. I realize it's not up to me, but diplomatic immunity after killing an innocent kid?

 

[alexia98]

Will the question of immunity be decided by a court? If so, in which country?

I don't think a court could decide anything here because it's more a "political" issue than a legal issue...

 

[tresir2012]

Absolutely not but this woman is not an "ordinary" American citizen. She's married to a diplomat (a maybe she has diplomatic immunity too)

I do not believe either of them are diplomats. All I have see is that he works in communications at the base. If our UK government is saying the immunity was not valid, they should know. MOO though.

 

[alexia98]

I do not believe either of them are diplomats. All I have see is that he works in communications at the base. If our UK government is saying the immunity was not valid, they should know. MOO though.

The title says "us diplomat wife" I thought at least her husband was a diplomat!
Anyways if there's no immunity I would be very pleased. Less problems for the victim's family and more chances to have some kind justice for Harry Dunn

 

[FrostOwl]

The title says "us diplomat wife" I thought at least her husband was a diplomat!
Anyways if there's no immunity I would be very pleased. Less problems for the victim's family and more chances to have some kind justice for Harry Dunn

Neither Anne Sacoolas or her husband are diplomats in the manner most people think of someone being a diplomat, for example being an ambassador, or working at an embassy. Her husband seems to be some kind of intelligence officer (involved in spying of some kind), and for some reason, the UK and the US decided to extend diplomatic immunity to some US staff at RAF Croughton in 1994. If the information in the article below is correct, she may have been driving a car with diplomatic plates. For more information about the case, see The Sacoolas affair: Diplomatic immunity or special immunity?

 

[alexia98]

I suppose being an intelligence officer is even more than being a diplomat....I mean all governments protect their diplomats but they protect way more their "spies"

 

[Laughing]

I still think she would likely have faced no charges, or minimal (manslaughter) charges if she'd only stayed and continued to cooperate with law enforcement!

 

[alexia98]

I think the same thing you do. Flight to avoid prosecution is never a good option!

 

[tresir2012]

Neither Anne Sacoolas or her husband are diplomats in the manner most people think of someone being a diplomat, for example being an ambassador, or working at an embassy. Her husband seems to be some kind of intelligence officer (involved in spying of some kind), and for some reason, the UK and the US decided to extend diplomatic immunity to some US staff at RAF Croughton in 1994. If the information in the article below is correct, she may have been driving a car with diplomatic plates. For more information about the case, see The Sacoolas affair: Diplomatic immunity or special immunity?

Interesting blog thanks but I don't think he is correct. We have communications at US bases all over Britain and I have not seen anywhere where it has been stated she was driving a car with diplomatic plates. That would be an important point IMO and I do not think she would have been charged by CPS if that were the case. We will have to see how this develops. I mean she has killed a UK citizen so it is not like a parking ticket or unpaid congestion charge, but is a criminal offence. MOO.

 

[wendybtn]

I am by no means defending this woman. Why hope you can remember to drive on the other side of the road when you can grab a cab or use a car and driver?
But this stuff happens to ordinary American citizens all the time. No one comes back for the trial or punishment.

 

[tresir2012]

I am by no means defending this woman. Why hope you can remember to drive on the other side of the road when you can grab a cab or use a car and driver?
But this stuff happens to ordinary American citizens all the time. No one comes back for the trial or punishment.

Are you saying that American citizens kill foreign citizens overseas all the time with their driving because I have never heard of this before in the UK. And we have had a lot of US citizens driving around in their left hand cars here in the UK for more than 60 years relatively safely. Yes there may be minor accidents of course but this is a serious criminal offence, not just a traffic infringement. MOO.

 

[gregjrichards]

So the US government says she has diplomatic immunity and the UK government says in her case immunity is not valid...
Poor Harry Dunn's family...I fear that now they have a tough nut to crack

Another worry I think the Dunn family are going to have is with the civil case against her as I bet all their assets are in now mostly in her husbands name. I don’t know what the situation is with the car she was driving (would it be a diplomatic vehicle?) and what kind of insurance it may have.

I’m not defending the driver in anyway I think her behaviour has been disgraceful but I’m very grateful I have never had to drive abroad on the other side of road because it must be a huge adjustment. Even being driven in a cab or tour bus on the other side of the road feels weird.

I really feel for Harry’s family the family Spokesperson was on Good Morning Brittain the other day and said his Mum is really struggling. Yesterday must have been horrendous for the family like every day is.

 

[Lilibet]

Are you saying that American citizens kill foreign citizens overseas all the time with their driving because I have never heard of this before in the UK. And we have had a lot of US citizens driving around in their left hand cars here in the UK for more than 60 years relatively safely. Yes there may be minor accidents of course but this is a serious criminal offence, not just a traffic infringement. MOO.

It takes a lot of concentration and focus to drive a rental car in the UK as we discovered over 40 years ago. My husband drove and every time he made a turn I reminded him “stay left, stay left.” A little nerve-wracking, but we did fine as a team. The biggest adventure was our first ever encounter with a roundabout! Eeek!! They are now more common in the U.S. and they’re great, but scary the first time.

I’m not defending the driver in anyway I think her behaviour has been disgraceful but I’m very grateful I have never had to drive abroad on the other side of road because it must be a huge adjustment. Even being driven in a cab or tour bus on the other side of the road feels weird.

As I mentioned above, it is a huge adjustment, but anyone who takes on the responsibility needs to take it seriously. Clearly, this woman got distracted, but that’s no excuse. If this had happened to us as tourists, no one would have helped us escape, nor would it have occurred to us to try.

Friends of ours just moved from Portugal to the U.K. for a three year job assignment that will involve a lot of driving. I’ll be interested to hear how they adjust to both the driving and the weather!

 

[tresir2012]

We have travelled and driven in Europe extensively on the right hand side of the road and it does take extra concentration when we do that. Americans coming here for work ( heavy article states Ann is the DOS employee and Jonathan a DOD employee) have their cars and HHG shipped over. The heavy article said it was her Volvo she was driving so it was not a Diplomatic vehicle AFAIK. At the end of the day it will be pursued, as I do not think Harry's parents will give up, they have stated they will campaign to make sure it cannot happen again.