A tragic accident, but....

[devon deer]

Imagine this scenario, I am visiting the US from the UK, a momentary loss of concentration on my part and I drive on the wrong side of the road, your young son is riding a motorbike on the correct side of the road and I crash into him, causing fatal injuries, the police request I stay in the US until they complete their investigation, but I decide to run and not face up to US justice, fly home where my country refuse your country and your family justice and deny my extradition.
OK, it's a tragic accident, but it has consequences.
In case some of you don't know what I'm referring to see this report and Mike Pompeos decision, very disappointing.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2020/01/24/anne-sacoolas-extradition/

 

[Aussie_hunter_JD]

I did see that on the news a while ago, reckon the American politicians would have a different view if it were the vice versa. Diplomatic immunity should not extend to family members of diplomats in these instances.

 

[VAspeedgoat]

I don't think there should be any diplomatic immunity for anyone. What BS

 

[SFC B]

As horrific as it is, I understand why they made the decision. The issue would be setting the precedent for future cases in countries VERY unlike the US and UK. Countries where charges, convictions and punishments do not line up with our common standards. We have instances like this one fairly regularly here in NY and DC especially. They are definitely hard pills to swallow.

 

[Deleted member 28227]

As horrific as it is, I understand why they made the decision. The issue would be setting the precedent for future cases in countries VERY unlike the US and UK. Countries where charges, convictions and punishments do not line up with our common standards. We have instances like this one fairly regularly here in NY and DC especially. They are definitely hard pills to swallow.

100% agree.

I wonder if a middle ground would be for US authorities to pursue charges? Does our system allow that?

 

[Nameless Range]

As horrific as it is, I understand why they made the decision. The issue would be setting the precedent for future cases in countries VERY unlike the US and UK. Countries where charges, convictions and punishments do not line up with our common standards. We have instances like this one fairly regularly here in NY and DC especially. They are definitely hard pills to swallow.

I think that whether from a religious or secular perspective, the reasons justice matters are not in any way weakened by abstract jurisdiction.

One could argue the father in me is being emotional and that's fine, but it is more than just a tough pill. It's a desecration of humanity in the name of administrative boundaries. There are pros and cons but ultimately there is a right thing to do. I'm not arguing against diplomatic immunity per se, but in this instance Mrs. Sacoolas can be extradited ex post facto and diplomatic immunity will still be a thing and not in any way weakened. She was allowed to leave the UK, and after evaluating the situation, she should come to grips with killing a teenager.

I can imagine darker scenarios where almost anyone arguing that this individual not face the consequences of what they have done, would not feel so if the shoe were on the other foot.

 

[devon deer]

She was a diplomats wife, not a diplomat, so shouldn't have been afforded that immunity, even so nobody should be able to get away (yes she has got away) with committing a crime in their own or other countries, at the end of the day a young chap died because her lapse in concentration, if she had remained in the UK it's possible she might not have even faced jail time.
I don't think this will be the end of this debacle.

 

[brymoore]

The US/UK special relationship isn’t special to all involved.

Sad deal for the parents.

 

[Deleted member 28227]

She was a diplomats wife,

She was leverage.

Not in this context, but that is the argument for diplomat's families having immunity.

 

[SFC B]

The problems and crimes we have here in the US of this same nature almost never involve the diplomats themselves, usually it is their children. All of the folks in country under the diplomatic mission (families etc) are afforded the immunity. Yes she SHOULD have waived her immunity and stayed to face the music as a human. She cannot be charged in the US for crimes not committed here and I fear this is the end without the family getting any justice.

 

[VAspeedgoat]

I get that's the law, it's still BS. If this were a place like North Korea or in the middle East I get it. There are political games to be played so offer reciprocity on immunity. But the UK and here? Wtf? If you can't behave there you can't behave here. I'll stand by this is BS. If rolls were reversed we'd be pissed as a nation.

 

[FranklinME]

She should have faced the music. I bet when she's old she will wish she did.

 

[Rancho Loco]

She's human garbage for not staying and facing the consequences.

And I don't know about her husband being a diplomat. A spy maybe, but not a diplomat.

 

[Randi]

we have people who are in our country illegally and even after they commit a crime in our country, some jurisdictions will release them and not hold them for Immigration to pick them up. These people are here illegally and are set free

This woman is a citizen I doubt that they will force her to return. But she should not have run. I doubt she would have served any time, she would have most likely still came home but she would have done the right thing by staying and seeing it through

people who enter our country illegally should be sent back. people who are citizens of our country should not be allowed to escape justice in another country for crimes they have committed. She should be sent back but she wont be.

 

[devon deer]

[QUOTE="Randi, post: 2937886, member: 41663"
But she should not have run. I doubt she would have served any time, she would have most likely still came home but she would have done the right thing by staying and seeing it through
[/QUOTE]
Exactly, spot on.
Cheers
Richard

 

[mdhunter]

It’s hard to defend the big picture of diplomatic immunity when this tragedy is so clear and occurred in a friendly country.

I feel horrible for the family and know if it happened to me I would struggle to rationalize the outcome.

 

[Bambistew]

She ran because she was guilty of something. Drunk, high, or what.

Accidents like this are horrible, but she should have stayed.

 

[devon deer]

If it were down to me, she gets sent back to the UK, we send over Prince Andrew to answer questions.
Cheers
Richard

 

[turbobrick]

Her actions, and the actions of everyone who allowed her to flee, fly directly in the face of the intent of diplomatic immunity. She need to be extradited without delay.

 

[Dave N]

If it were down to me, she gets sent back to the UK, we send over Prince Andrew to answer questions.
Cheers
Richard

Careful, somebody might get "Clinton'ed"!