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

[Shirleynew]

Trial today by Video link. Guilty. Sentencing in November

No she won't visit Britain - she'll escape justice through her diplomatic/security status, and no other reason. She killed someone's child through her careless driving, and the family who has to live with the loss of their child are the ones who have my sympathy. I have none whatsoever for her.

in comparison, what sentence do most people convicted of a similar crime get? do any of them get jail for this offence?

do we think she would be treated more or less the same, based on the HUGE publicity? (though hopefully a judge would be indifferent to that)

I don't think anyone on here has said she should be treated more harshly than others who have killed someone through careless driving, have they?

i assume people mean a hasrh sentence (ie jail) when they say THEY WANT TO SEE JUSTICE DONE

and won't be particularly happy with a few weeks community service or a driving ban?

I didn't assume that - I think that most people want to see her tried in the same way other people who kill behind the wheel of their car are, and with the same principles of law applied in her sentencing with no more favourable terms issued to her because she's American and has some sort of vague immunity.

Death by careless driving does not involve jail sentences in the US typically. Just how it is and probably why she was advised to leave

The person's action whether that's drinking, texting, distraction or speeding can end a life

These are mostly actions that someone knowingly engages in—driving on the wrong side of the road is not like these at all.

It unfortunately happens from time to time. Maybe the UK should switch sides to match the rest of the world if they want to prevent these tragedies? They’ve done this in places like Sweden (in the 60s I believe?). So few places use the left-hand side anymore

I’ll afraid it’s one of the risks you take if you decide to drive in a country whose road systems are different from your home country. If I killed someone if France because I ‘forgot’ where I was then I would face a trial and sentencing - and rightly so.

Until such time as the UK moves to join the majority of the world and drives on the right (I wish we would, but suspect it won’t happen in my lifetime) then it’s incumbent upon foreign drivers to drive to the laws of our roads.

Have you ever driven on a different road system? What she did was incredibly easy thing to do and it does no good to pretend only bad drivers or
negligent drivers do it.

If you choose to use the roads, you are accepting a certain level of risk that you or someone else will make a mistake. It’s very different from ppl who drink drive or text while driving.

Of course I've driven on another road system. Yes, it is easy to make a mistake and no-where did I say it's only bad or negligent drivers who make those mistakes - but my post still stands. It's a risk you take when you drive in a country whose road systems you're not used to, and you have to accept the legal consequences if your mistake results in the death of someone.

I passed my test in a country where they drive on the right @MintyFreshOne. I now live in the U.K. and drive on the left. I regularly drive in Europe in both my RH drive car or hire a LH drive one.

Have never ever driven on the wrong side of the road. Never. And most people doing it would realise very quickly whereas she had been driving on the wrong side of the road for 400 yards before she killed Harry.

She has a prior conviction for being a poor driver in the US - either using her phone or being in the wrong lane.

Have never ever driven on the wrong side of the road. Never. And most people doing it would realise very quickly whereas she had been driving on the wrong side of the road for 400 yards before she killed Harry

Well I have definitely driven on the wrong side of the road before when switching, it commonly happens usually within the first couple of days of switching. Just because you have never knowingly done it (I have my doubts) doesn’t mean anything.

Does anyone know if the base uses US road rules or the UK? That could be causing a lot of problems when it comes to switching to outside the base.

@MintyFreshOne They drive on the left at RAF Mildenhall

A quick Google search (which includes an aerial photo) suggests that as it’s an RAF base with the the US using it the roads inside the base are laid out as per the rest of the UK.

She selfishly and cowardly made the bereaved family fight for justice.

^^ this. And that was her choice and is the disgraceful part.

My understanding is that they drive on the right inside the base which is one of the reasons for having the drive on the left signs and arrows on the road just outside. Might be a good gesture to change that to drive on the left as a legacy for Harry?

It doesn’t seem that’s the case on this base - have you looked at the Google Earth images?

The family said from the beginning that they didn't want her to get a custodial sentence, which makes the fact that she ran away even worse.

I wouldn’t trust myself to be able to drive safely on the other side of the road and remember constantly. So I don’t drive abroad.

The fact the cowardly piece of shit ran off, although legal, makes it all much worse. Terrible she won’t be dealt with proportionately.

She’s not getting a custodial sentence is she 😑

8 months in prison, suspended for 12 months. Judge very clear that she was unimpressed with Ms Sacoolas choosing not to show up for sentencing.

US-UK extradition treaties are very US- biased.

If she was British she would be serving a minimum of 18 months with the same mitigation. . Suspending the most minimum of sentences adds insult to injury.

I do hope everyone she knows is aware.