Anne Sacoolas admits causing the death of Harry Dunn by dangerous driving

[Shirleynew]

Trial today by Video link. Guilty. Sentencing in November

Didn't something else happen - the parents went to the US to speak to Trump (or invited by Trump) and unknown to them he had the woman in another room and wanted them to meet and "work it out" or something? And the mother point blank refused. Whatever the exact details I remember thinking what an insane degree of pressure and the mum held strong.

I agree. Either we apply the law or not. The person's action whether that's drinking, texting, distraction or speeding can end a life. In this case they did. But the intent is the same whether someone is lucky or not, whether the victims and their families are sympathetic or not.

Either make the penalties for this kind of act dependent on the risk, rather than the result, or accept that penalties for deaths which occur this way are necessarily low-seeming by.

Shame she didn't plead admit responsibility earlier and spared Harry's family all the anxiety and grief they have been through... 😔 😔 😔 😔

Well if we apply the law, international law is that diplomats are protected from prosecution.

Be it this or other country's jailing British diplomats for say being gay. We'd not insist that person was hailed as that the law in that land.

Anyone facing a charge of causing the death of someone would follow the advice of their lawyers to a tee. That is all she has done.
She spoke to the Police at the time. She was told she could and should leave the country. She was told not to return.

No, that’s not ‘all’ she’s done. She killed someone’s child.

Yes I hate her for putting them through such a long drawn out process. Evil selfish bitch who I'd happily kick to kingdom come if I could.

She was driving on the wrong side of the road. I wouldn't call that an accident.

Harry's parents have fought so hard to acheive this outcome, and show amazing courage and dignity whilst doing so.

My thoughts are with them rather than the woman who caused this and seemingly was unable to admit to it.

She was driving on the wrong side of the road. I wouldn't call that an accident.

I once went the wrong way around a roundabout when I was living between two countries. Complete accident. I was extremely fortunate no one was coming. It's very common to forget, especially in the early morning or when distracted. Your brain fills in a lot of blanks with typical behaviour.

It's outrageous that ita taken so long, but it seemed early on that she was doing all the right things. Then the Americans whipped her away. I don't think she had any choice but to leave, but I also agree with PP. I don't think many people here would have offered to stay in the same circumstances.

It was a terrible thing, but it was a dreadful mistake, not deliberate or malicious. As for due process, I think the US itself was the biggest detractor there.

The thing is, errors of judgements that result in the death of someone require some form of acknowledgment of guilt and retribution. AS sought to avoid both by hiding behind immunity. It’s irrelevant whether she meant to kill him - the fact is, she did, and she should have been treated in exactly the same way as anyone else in the UK who unintentionally kills another person.

So what would be a reasonable punishment for mistakenly driving on the wrong side of the road and it not resulting in tragedy?

The error is the same regardless of the outcome.

From a legal pov it’s not the same - the outcome is key here.

I once very nearly mowed someone down on a pelican crossing. I pressed the wrong pedal, still don't really know how it happened. Thankfully she was agile enough to leap out of the way. We were both very shaken, I apologised profusely and we went on our way.

It could have had such a different outcome for both of us. It still makes me sweat to think of it. There but for the grace...unless anyone has truly never made a mistake in a car.

You are spot on. I feel for the family having to go through 3 years trying to get this woman to justice.

it’s a local story for me. I’ve followed it avidly and I hope now Harry’s family can get some comfort and eventual closure on this tragic event. Love to Harry’s family x

This

You’re right, everyone who drives has at some point made an error to a greater or lesser extent - but when you pass your test and get behind the wheel you are solely responsible for driving x number of tonnes of metal safely and without injury or death to another person. If the worst does happen then you have a moral and legal responsibility to admit guilt and accept the punishment that the courts issue - not to hightail it out of the country, leaving the family of the person you’ve killed to spend years of their lives trying to get justice.

I hope this brings Harry's parents some peace

Well back to that, I don't think she had a choice. She was originally co operating and then the Americans ordered her home.

Plus can you really say you'd have done any different and left your young children while you faced jail time in a foreign country, given the choice? You'd have been able to persuade yourself that whilst you were terribly sorry for the family, your duty was to your own children. I daresay you might have many sleepless nights over it, but most people would still go home.

This is my understanding. She didn't exactly do a hit and run.

She first stayed at the scene of the accident until the police let her leave.

The police visited her at her home the next day.

At no point, as far as I'm aware, was she arrested.

Three weeks after the crash, she left the country on a US govt flight from the US airbase.

If someone intended to do a moonlight flit they wouldn't wait three weeks, or even for the police to visit them the next day.

I would bet a fair amount of money she was told in no uncertain terms that she was leaving. The US would not want the wife of a diplomat in a UK prison.

I would bet a fair amount of money she was told in no uncertain terms that she was leaving. The US would not want the wife of a diplomat in a UK prison.

'Diplomat'? Member of the intelligence services.

I've seen him reported as both - diplomat is quicker to type. He's clearly working in a sensitive capacity where the US would very much not want his wife in a foreign prison.

I'm inclined to agree here, but you also have to ask why the police didn't intervene and bail her for the incident/forbid her from leaving. As to the offence, I'm inclined to agree with her plea but that depends on the circumstances which don't seem to be being reported.

I am familiar with the road, and am aware that much of the trees & hedgerow near that entrance to the base has been massively cut back after this incident, visibility has vastly improved.
One has to ask the questions, the answers to which I've yet to find online: how well WAS it sign posted coming out of the base to drive on the left (I'm aware that's likely also improved since, although I think the arrows in the road may have been there for years),what was the weather like (one can brake more easily in the dry), whether Mr Dunn was wearing hi viz and had his headlight on (could she see him in amongst trees?), and what speed he was doing, and how much the trees/hedgerow hindered visibility at the time. Also she claimed to be on the wrong side of the road for some way, it's quite straight immediately on exiting the base, how far along there did she travel and was she still on the wrong side at the first bend which is a fair distance away? Or was the accident nearer the base in which case what speed was Mr Dunn doing at the time of impact (it's 40 outside the base, and knowing it's there that's the straightest bit of road before getting to the village), had he slowed down on realising she was coming towards him? Or was it the other way coming from the village & 30mph limit? All factors to be taken into account, and depending on the answers I can understand why she may have opted for the lesser plea and it was accepted.

She will never visit Britain, let's face it

Feel very sorry for the family, what a tragedy