Us Diplomats wife Suspect in hit and run death of teenager flees country.

[Cimorene]

What she did was a tragic accident but it wasn't an accident that she just bolted from the country & compounded the pain for the boy's family. That was her choice! Shame on her!

 

[Cimorene]

Apparantly she was driving on the wrong side of the road. Easy for a newcomer to England. In my second day there I started into a roundabout the wrong way. That was a sobering experience!

Yes my mom drove when we were in Australia and NZ over the summer / their winter & she was super paranoid about making that mistake bc a lot of ppl do. It's an understandable mistake to make. She told me this actor who had been popular in the 80s killed a mom & daughter in Scotland bc he drove on the wrong side of the road. The actor didn't just bolt from the country. He did face up to it. He wasn't thrown into prison or anything bc it was truly an accident not anything intentional, but he did take accountability. She's a coward and it's cruel.

 

[MyOwnSockPuppet]

She told me this actor who had been popular in the 80s killed a mom & daughter in Scotland bc he drove on the wrong side of the road. The actor didn't just bolt from the country. He did face up to it. He wasn't thrown into prison or anything bc it was truly an accident not anything intentional, but he did take accountability.

I think she was thinking of Matthew Broderick, who in 1989 somehow (he has no recollection how, or of the accident at all) was on the wrong side of the road in a hired BMW with a Volvo coming the other way in Northern Ireland.
In fairness he'd have struggled to run off (with broken ribs, a broken leg, a collapsed lung and concussion), he was prosecuted and was fined the equivalent of $175

 

[HantsUK]

Update:

US suspect 'disappointed' by Dunn family rejection
US crash suspect's return 'non-negotiable'

The alleged driver, Mrs Anne Sacoolas, has, through her lawyers, said she wanted to meet Mr Dunn's parents "so that she can express her deepest sympathies and apologies for this tragic accident".

Harry Dunn's parents are currently in the USA and have just met with President Trump, who tried a surprise meeting between them and Mrs Sacoolas which was rejected. Dunn's parents do want to meet with Mrs Sacoolas, but also want her to return to the UK. Sacoolas had originally said she would not leave the UK, but then did so under diplomatic immunity.

But a White House spokesperson has said that Sacoolas will never return to the UK.

If Sacoolas doesn't return to face further questioning, and possible charges (that is for the CPS to decide), then justice will not be done, and Dunn's parents will not get the closure they need. Also, if Sacoolas is genuinely remorseful, she will also suffer guilt that will not be dealt with.

But if she did return and face a trial (unless she pleaded guilty), there will be difficulties, as President Trump has effectively already claimed that she is guilty of causing Harry Dunn's death, by driving on the wrong side of the road.

A tragic situation for all concerned, made worse by how it has been handled by the US authorities.

 

[HantsUK]

Another update:

Anne Sacoolas refuses to return to face Harry Dunn charges
US woman to be charged over Harry Dunn crash death

The British authorities (CPS - Crown Prosecution Service) have now charged Mrs Sacoolas with causing death by dangerous driving, and has started extradition proceedings.

The "causing death" is not disputed. "Dangerous driving" is defined as driving far below the standard expected of a competent driver, and this would be obvious that there is a serious risk of personal injury or damage to property. It does not have to be deliberate or intentional.

Lawyer Amy Jefress for Mrs Sacoolas said: "Anne (Sacoolas) will not return voluntarily to the UK to face a potential jail sentence for what was a terrible but unintentional accident."

While the maximum sentence, if found guilty, is 14 years jail, sentences are usually much less than this unless there are many aggravating factors and several deaths. Many receive no jail term. Ten to 12 years seems to be the maximum for, e.g. driving at 80 mph in a built up area, with a complete disregard to other people, dangerous overtaking, blasting through road junctions, before crashing into another vehicle and killing several people (e.g. 'I'd do it again,' said driver who killed four in crash, as judge asks for tougher sentencing powers).

The minimum sentence is 24 months driving ban (and no prison).

I think it is unlikely that the US will allow the extradition of Mrs Sacoolas.

 

[JackRT]

The existing laws for diplomatic immunity are wide open to abuse but at the same time I can understand their necessity. It is difficult to see a way around the problem except that when the problem is a matter between long time friends and allies the correct thing would be to waive diplomatic immunity. If the UK pursues extradition then this woman will likely never travel outside the USA again.

 

[Aryeh Jay]

The United States will protect its criminals at all costs.

 

[JackRT]

The United States will protect its criminals at all costs.

That seems to be SOP.

 

[essentialsaltes]

Interpol has issued an international arrest warrant for an American diplomat’s wife accused of killing a British teenager by driving dangerously.

Anne Sacoolas invoked diplomatic immunity after a crash in Northamptonshire in August that killed 19-year-old motorcyclist Harry Dunn near a British military base that houses U.S. troops.

Sacoolas was allowed to leave the United Kingdom following the incident, and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in January rejected an extradition request from the British government. She is alleged to have been driving on the wrong side of the road at the time of the crash.

 

[Goonie]

Interpol has issued an international arrest warrant for an American diplomat’s wife accused of killing a British teenager by driving dangerously.

Anne Sacoolas invoked diplomatic immunity after a crash in Northamptonshire in August that killed 19-year-old motorcyclist Harry Dunn near a British military base that houses U.S. troops.

Sacoolas was allowed to leave the United Kingdom following the incident, and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in January rejected an extradition request from the British government. She is alleged to have been driving on the wrong side of the road at the time of the crash.

Yep, sadly I seriously doubt authorities will act on it even if she's identified abroad.

One has to remember that there is one rule for American diplomats, and another for anybody else, since diplomats in the USA are prosecuted for motor offences including deaths, as a Georgian diplomat found.

 

[HantsUK]

Latest update:
The UK and the US agree to amend an "anomaly" in a "secret agreement" that allowed Mrs Sacoolas to claim diplomatic immunity.
See:
US immunity 'loophole' closed after Dunn death (BBC News)

Until now, family members had a greater level of diplomatic immunity than actual US embassy staff. If a US official, rather than his or her spouse, had been driving the car involved in the crash, they may have had to face police questioning and potential criminal charge.

This change is not retrospective.

Although Mrs Sacoolas is unlikely to be extradited (under the current government), if she were to travel to another country, she would run the risk to being arrested and extradited to the UK.

 

[Aryeh Jay]

Latest update:
The UK and the US agree to amend an "anomaly" in a "secret agreement" that allowed Mrs Sacoolas to claim diplomatic immunity.
See:
US immunity 'loophole' closed after Dunn death (BBC News)

Until now, family members had a greater level of diplomatic immunity than actual US embassy staff. If a US official, rather than his or her spouse, had been driving the car involved in the crash, they may have had to face police questioning and potential criminal charge.

This change is not retrospective.

Although Mrs Sacoolas is unlikely to be extradited (under the current government), if she were to travel to another country, she would run the risk to being arrested and extradited to the UK.

You know, if you really wanted her, you could just send some unmarked vans and clandestine police over here and snatch her off the street. Nobody would even notice or care since our Leader made this an approved practice for getting hard to catch criminals.

 

[essentialsaltes]

LONDON — It was a year ago Thursday that Harry Dunn was struck by a luxury SUV that police say was driven on the wrong side of a two-lane highway by the American wife of a U.S. diplomat in central England.

Dunn, 19, died of his injuries. The U.S. government asserted that the driver, Anne Sacoolas, was protected by diplomatic immunity. She left the country, with full knowledge of British and U.S. authorities.

Now, in an exchange of letters revealed this week, top British authorities suggest that prosecutors are considering trying Sacoolas in absentia.

Sacoolas was charged in Britain in December with causing death by dangerous driving. A British request for extradition was rejected by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

A virtual trial, Stephens said, would be unusual — he estimated there has been one such trial in England and Wales every two years or so. “It is quite the exception rather than the rule,” he said. “But, of course, this is an exceptional case.”

 

[cow451]

She is home safe. Diplomatic immunity will not be waived.

The Law and Order President .....

 

[stevil]

Although Mrs Sacoolas is unlikely to be extradited (under the current government), if she were to travel to another country, she would run the risk to being arrested and extradited to the UK.

I would assume that common wealth countries like NZ, Aus, Canada, India, Fiji etc will have strong bonds with UK and will arrest her and extradite her to the UK.

Of course USA will likely try to strong arm (bully) us on that.

 

[HantsUK]

Another update:
While President Biden seems to be reversing many of President Trumps decisions, there is one area where they are in agreement: the refusal to extradite Mrs Sacoolas to face charges of death by dangerous driving.

Harry Dunn crash: Biden team says Anne Sacoolas extradition refusal 'final' (BBC)

And the latest twist: It now seems that she was working for the US intelligence agency, according to the latest details revealed in a court case in the USA brought against Mrs Sacoolas by the Dunn family. If so, then the loophole that allowed her to leave did not apply.

Harry Dunn: Suspect Anne Sacoolas 'worked for US intelligence' (BBC)

 

[essentialsaltes]

British authorities suggest that prosecutors are considering trying Sacoolas in absentia.

Sacoolas was charged in Britain in December with causing death by dangerous driving. A British request for extradition was rejected by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

A virtual trial, Stephens said, would be unusual — he estimated there has been one such trial in England and Wales every two years or so. “It is quite the exception rather than the rule,” he said. “But, of course, this is an exceptional case.”

Sacoolas appeared virtually and pleaded guilty to a lesser charge. She is not likely to face any punishment handed down (unless she returns to the UK to face the music).

US citizen Anne Sacoolas pleads guilty to causing Harry Dunn’s death

The 45-year-old pleaded guilty to causing death by careless driving. She pleaded not guilty to the more serious charge of death by dangerous driving, and UK prosecutors said they would not pursue the dangerous driving charge against her.

Causing death by careless driving can be punished by up to five years imprisonment.

Cheema-Grubb said she had not yet decided what sentence to hand down to Sacoolas but admitted to the court that “any sentence I pass is likely to be unenforceable while the defendant remains outside the United Kingdom.”