To think American diplomatic immunity...

[MT2017]

...should not apply here.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-northamptonshire-49961679

What's worse is that she was advised to leave by the American Embassy!

I could turn a blind eye to some of the crimes (non payment of the congestion charge etc) but this is outrageous. Some crimes shouldn’t be covered by Diplomatic Immunity and anything that involves the loss of life definitely shouldn’t.

When you say “here” do you mean “in the UK” or “in this case”?

Diplomatic immunity is a very important benefit for national relations and should never be used for incidents like this!
This women should absolutely return to the UK to help the police complete the investigation. I wonder how she would feel if it was her child that had been killed.

I thought the point of Diplomatic immunity was to prevent arrests for political reasons. Not to get people of Scot free when it is obvious they did wrong.

Seeing how other American bases drive on the Right not Left, I do wonder if it was a contributing factor in this case.

@Temeraire

This case. Harry Dunn and Anne Sacoolas. I'm sure there are other cases that may be deserving but this is outrageous.

It's an appalling state of affairs. Fair enough diplomatic immunity is necessary where the host country might otherwise persecute foreign diplomatic service staff for spurious reasons... but this is getting away Scott free! Plain and simple. Disgraceful! I'd have a hot more respect for Boris if he got this particular issue sorted out. He won't of course.

Lot not hot. Nothing about bojo makes me hot.

*Shudder

This isn’t the first time diplomatic immunity has been the cause for people not getting arrested etc.... usually middle eastern countries are the offenders.

I'm no expert on diplomatic immunity but I think America can waive the immunity if the case is serious enough, which this is, and I think they can also prosecute.

I doubt this will be the last of it, if it is, i willbe very surprised.

It's ridiculous and the embassy should intervene.
Boris will do nowt.

This is tough isn’t it. Because this isn’t much different from any crime that would encore diplomatic immunity so you’re really talking about getting rid of it

I recall years ago a diplomats son was identified as a rapist, he was on a plane before the mornings papers were printed. I can’t imagine how an affected family must feel

It should not be allowed and the US should force her to come back

Irony being if they prosecute over there she'll potentially end up in a US prison where conditions and penalties are much much worse than here. Might have made sense to stay here and take it on the chin in a British court.

It’s going to apply because the US law on accidents is way more lenient than the U.K. laws. People kill people all the time in car accidents and don’t spend a day in jail. Diplomats & dependents are not subject to any host nation laws. It’s not designed just for political laws, but for all laws. The PM can’t “sort this issue out” because it’s a UN convention that sets the rules. The entire UN would have to change it.

Boris will wimpy -wail and do fuck all as usual.

The entire un doesn't need to change it, as said, America can waive the immunity if they so choose, making her face charges.

I would like to see her return of her own volition and I think it would go down well in court if she did. I hope her family and friends are encouraging her to do so.

@GrumpiestCat
Irony being if they prosecute over there she'll potentially end up in a US prison where conditions and penalties are much much worse than here.

This is not true. US laws are much more lenient on car accidents. You have to prove criminal negligence while driving (so drunk, excessive speeding) in order to charge anyone with involuntary manslaughter. I lost a friend who was knocked off her bike and killed. The driver did not even get a ticket.

i feel so sorry for his family. its disgusting that she fled and she should be made to come back.

From the (US) Washington Post:

During the investigation, the American woman cooperated “fully” with police, and even assured them “she had no plans to leave the country in the near future,” Northamptonshire Police Superintendent Sarah Johnson said in a statement Saturday.

But then police learned the driver would be claiming diplomatic immunity, and they made an immediate waiver request to the U.S. Embassy in London, a spokeswoman told The Post. That request was denied, she said.

“We’re disgusted, appalled, how she could be having this cloak wrapped around her,” Dunn’s father, Tim Dunn, told Sky News. “I’m angry that someone could do this and then get on a plane and go.

“I can’t believe she’s living with herself,” he added.

That's so sad @DrAllcome, I'm so sorry about your friend.

@Bluntness100
The entire un doesn't need to change it, as said, America can waive the immunity if they so choose, making her face charges.

I was referring to the idea that diplomatic immunity could be redefined to be not applicable to certain laws. Waiving immunity is part of the UN convention and the US isn’t going to waive it. The PM can’t make the US do anything.

@GrumpiestCat
Thank you.

Diplomatic immunity shouldn’t apply in this situation. She murdered a child and needs to face the consequences.

And this is the country that's saving us from the EU ?