Police chiefs ask US to waive immunity for envoy's wife in crash.

Police chiefs have written to the US embassy in London to demand immunity is waived for an American diplomat’s wife who is a suspect in relation to a fatal road crash.
Nick Adderley, chief constable for Northamptonshire police, said US authorities had been appealed to in “the strongest terms” to apply a waiver and “allow the justice process to take place”.
His force is leading investigations into a collision that killed Harry Dunn, 19, of Charlton, Banbury, on 27 August.

Police said the teenager died after his motorbike collided with a car close to RAF Croughton in Northamptonshire, a military base used by the US Air Force. A 42-year-old woman, named as Anne Sacoolas, is being treated as a suspect in relation to the crash. She left the UK.

Police chiefs ask US to waive immunity for envoy's wife in crash.

Link to other news article about the incident. There are a lot out there.
Huffington Post Article.
So this has been all over the news media and press here in Great Britian the weekend. There are lots of diffrent news articles coming at this from all angles. Some are discussing the nuances of Diplomatic immunity, a lot have been talking to the parents of Harry Dunn who died in the crash, and what they want to happen. Boris Johnson has also spoke about the crash and subsequent fleeing of Anne Sacoolas.
Mrs Sacoolas was leaving the base (RAF Croughton) an American listening post, when the incident happened, she was driving on the wrong side of road and struck Harry, killing him. She was told to leave the UK and return to the US by the US embassy.
I think Mrs Sacoolas fleeing Britian was disgusting, and advice given by the embassy was utterly wrong. Being a partner of a diplomat shouldn't automatically allow you to get away with murder or manslaughter if that is what is proven. When is diplomatic immunity wrong?
The Crown Prosecution Service have said immunity does not automatically apply to a diplomat’s partner when based outside of London. Shouldn't Harrys family be allowed some sort of justice for their boy? How would you feel if someone was allowed to flee after killing one of your family members, and carry on with their life has if nothing had happened?

a reply to: Kurokage

She should return to England and face the music.

a reply to: Kurokage
Well Barbara Bush did the same and got off?
I thought that's how it works?

It's very rare I would quote snopes, but looking for info I stumbled upon it.

Snopes - Laura Bush's Fatal Accident

Please take the time to read, it shows Snopes' bias all to well.

Diplomatic immunity should ONLY apply to those carrying the Diplomatic Pouch....no more no less.
Any other criminal act in a foreign country and you are held accountable...end of!

Rainbows
Jane

I don't like diplomatic immunity.

I'm sure it's original intent was to protect against false charges in order to penalize an individual or country they represent on the political stage.

Pretty sure it was never meant to allow people to commit crimes and just wave a get out of jail free card.

Its disgusting that this woman was advised to leave by the us embassy. Being involved in an accident she would have automatically been drink and drug tested. Im wondering if she was 'over the limit' and this caused her to flee, not wanting to face british justice, even though the odds of her being dealt with very leniantly (because of her political status) were pretty high.

Even if no drink or drugs were detected, she still took a life due to being on the wrong side of the road. Such an irresponsible act, not one youd expect from our closest partners in crime.

Since when are traffic accidents a criminal offence unless the person was under the influence of drugs or alcohol? Seems to me the embassy made the correct call telling her to leave.

originally posted by: Jason79
Since when are traffic accidents a criminal offence unless the person was under the influence of drugs or alcohol? Seems to me the embassy made the correct call telling her to leave.

I do not have all the details, but from what I read this was negligent homicide at the least. From reports I've read, she was driving on the wrong side of the road at the time of the incident.

originally posted by: Jason79
Since when are traffic accidents a criminal offence unless the person was under the influence of drugs or alcohol? Seems to me the embassy made the correct call telling her to leave.

Illogical. The embassy never gave the police the opportunity to establish whether the woman had caused a criminal offence. Instead, it aided and abetted "obstruction of justice" by helping the woman evade likely arrest. Morally indefensible, if not even criminal in itself.

a reply to: Jason79

Since when are traffic accidents a criminal offence

" Driving Without Due Care And Attention " is a criminal act. Alcohol and Drugs don't have to be involved.

Seems to me the embassy made the correct call telling her to leave.

No it wasn't the correct call. Completely out of order.

a reply to: BomSquad

You do realise that entire county drives on the left side of the road. While we go so far to indoctorate elementary children to keep right while walking in the school hallways. Have you ever driven somewhere a wondered how you got there?

More than likely she reverted back to her American side of the road. I have done it a couple times myself.
Still, she should have stayed put until the investigatikn was complete. I hope she is at least made to come back.

As an aside...we have this happen at least once a year up my way....peeps just forget to drive on the left side of the road.



a reply to: Catch_a_Fire

originally posted by: Jason79
a reply to: BomSquad

You do realise that entire county drives on the left side of the road. While we go so far to indoctorate elementary children to keep right while walking in the school hallways. Have you ever driven somewhere a wondered how you got there?

You do realize that driving in the wrong lane, and killing someone, no matter what country you are in, is still negligent homicide!

She made a mistake and drove in the wrong lane, that doesn't mean she gets to say, "Sorry" and flee the country. (well, it does with diplomatic immunity, but that should be waived in this case and she should face the music)

Through her negligence, for driving on the wrong side of the road, a person lost their life. Is it a tragic mistake and accident? Yes! But she still needs to own up for this mistake and pay the price.

a reply to: Kurokage

I think Mrs Sacoolas fleeing Britian was disgusting, and advice given by the embassy was utterly wrong. Being a partner of a diplomat shouldn't automatically allow you to get away with murder or manslaughter if that is what is proven. When is diplomatic immunity wrong?

Totally agreed , diplomatic immunity is called such because it offers immunity for foreign diplomats it should not be used as a family ticket to escape justice , from what I've read the poor kid didn't stand a chance , she should be returned to face justice.

a reply to: Kurokage

That RAF base is a very well known US communications spy hub.

Her husband works there and I have read is a "spy".

Name is Jonathan Sacoolas. They have a couple homes in Virginia.

a reply to: micpsi
a reply to: alldaylong

It's up to the prosecution to prove a crime took place, and left hand vs right hand driving likely caused the accident.

originally posted by: Jason79
a reply to: BomSquad

You do realise that entire county drives on the left side of the road. While we go so far to indoctorate elementary children to keep right while walking in the school hallways. Have you ever driven somewhere a wondered how you got there?

Luckily the driving test taken in the UK is done in a seperate centre and with its own set of rules, go figure, I dont recall when taking my driving test that i had to avoid 5th graders on the hard shoulder, not sure why you think school has anyhthing to do with passing your driving test or even driving on the correct side of the road, she would have declared her driving credentials and been told no doubt, that us Brits drive on the other side, the death she caused must be investigated, she could just call Matthew broderick for advice though, he went with the temporary amnesia route when he murdered a Brit.

"I don't remember the day. I don't remember even getting up in the morning. I don't remember making my bed. What I first remember is waking up in the hospital, with a very strange feeling going on in my leg." He was charged with causing death by dangerous driving and faced up to five years in prison, but was later convicted of the lesser charge of careless driving and fined $175

Just another example of what power allows for, disregard for us lesser mortals

a reply to: BomSquad

By that logic anyone even remotely involved in a traffic accident should receive a lengthy prison sentence. Hell lets go a tiny step farther, death penalty for anyone backing into a light pole.

a reply to: Jason79

It's up to the prosecution to prove a crime took place

Correct.

However this woman has done a runner so she won't face prosecution. Unless she is returned.

I say send her back to face justice.

She is married to a spy, so she gets immunity???
Screw that.