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

[Shirleynew]

Trial today by Video link. Guilty. Sentencing in November

No, she wouldn't. To get that high a sentence the offence would need to be close to dangerous driving and there would need to be aggravating factors. This is not the "most minimum of sentences". The minimum the judge could have given was a low-level community order, although there is clearly no way that could be enforced. She will have received a reduction of between 10% and one third for pleading guilty. With a sentence of below 12 months, there is always a good chance it will be suspended for a first offence.

She had a family to ferry around so it’s not likely she could avoid driving in the UK.

Tbh getting a prison sentence for what was clearly an accident just doesn’t happen in the US, unless you were drink driving, really speeding (like, drag racing level speeding), etc. So of course she’s not gonna go to the UK to serve that sentence, and US embassy apparently thought it might go this way so that’s why they told her to leave in the first place.

She's been caught by Mirror when laughing with her lawyer on the way to attend the video link. I guess she thinks she's higher than the other lives . I always thought she'd be haunted for the rest of the life because of the coward escape. But now, I'm not sure any more.

She's been caught by Mirror when laughing with her lawyer on the way to attend the video link.

Laughing is often a stress response. I deal with heartbreaking things at work, deaths and terrible things. I take them incredibly seriously. I still laugh.

My thoughts are with Harry's family tonight.

It doesn't sit well that they've had to fight this hard for this outcome.

May peace of mind and acceptance come their way now

Well, I didn't say she doesn't have the right to live a life and laugh in private. But in the way to deal with such a heavy and serious matter, I'd expect some manner is maintained to show respect to the victim and his family, especially a life has gone because of her, careless or not.

Justice in the sense that Sacoolas now - rightly - has a criminal record. It won’t bring Harry back obviously, but hopefully it brings them some small measure of peace. The most important thing is that no family should ever go through this again and hopefully the UK govt will ensure that this ridiculous loophole is closed.

She had a family to ferry around so it’s not likely she could avoid driving in the UK.

Lucky, lucky her

Also, articles I’ve been reading today indicate she’d only been in the UK a few weeks. So not terribly used to using the left side of the road.

She’d never be jailed for this sort of accident in the US and the advice from the US embassy probably reflects that difference

I read somewhere she'd only be driving for 2 weeks in the UK, although the road layout on the base is set for the UK - so she drove around it on the left and then came out and moved over onto the right. Sounds like she vastly overestimated her driving abilities.

It's not doubt this was a terrible mistake that she had never meant to make it happen. But it's her choice to refuse taking responsibility and let the family go through the ordeal while mourning for their beloved son.

She had three years to give the family a dignified closure but she didn't. In the US , if she's not jailed, would she still have to go through the court hearings? Isn't at least a responsibility to take as minimum?

I don't want to hijack this thread, but some of you may be interested in discussing the consequences for those who kill by egregiously dangerous driving

Justice for Courtney Ellis aged 14 killed by a driver going 93mph in a 30mph zone www.mumsnet.com/Talk/petitions_noticeboard/4685349-justice-for-courtney-ellis-aged-14-killed-by-a-driver-going-93mph-in-a-30mph-zone

Thanks for highlighting that thread @ErrolTheDragon

Not to nitpick, but accidentally going into the wrong lane is very different from knowingly speeding far over the limit and killing someone. Not really like the Sacoolas case at all.

iirc Matthew Broderick did something similar in Ireland and ended up killing two women. Maybe in the early 90s?

Not to nitpick, but accidentally going into the wrong lane is very different from knowingly speeding far over the limit and killing someone. Not really like the Sacoolas case at all.

I didn't say it was. just thought there might be an overlap of interest.

This was a very similar case (my DS’s friend ) - she was never going to get much of a sentence …….