To think this woman needs to return to the UK?

[Hazza000]

What do you all think of the case of the American woman claiming diplomatic immunity for running down and killing that young man Harry Dunn accidentally? She has now fled the uk claiming diplomatic immunity and left a devastated family behind facing a fight for justice?

It is appalling behavior. I'm a Brit in the USA on placement currently. I have taken my drivers test here and have to follow the same laws.
If I drove on the UK side of the road and killed someone I am sure I wouldn't be let off.
That said we aren't going to get anywhere with diplomatic immunity ( and the standard of American driving is awful so I'm not that surprised)

This woman will live with this for the rest of her life as will her children. Bringing her back or putting her in prison will achieve nothing other than making lawyers richer and another prisoner will be burdening uk tax payers

Or, you know, justice

I think it's ridiculous, pointless and cruel to imprison people responsible for genuine car accidents, ( I'm not talking about joyriding here), and cannot say I blame her for not returning
Except that most of these accidents causing deaths are preventable. Being negligent because one can't be bothered to ensure they are not being a danger is in my view as much a crime. We all have responsibility to keep ourselves and others safe.

Her driving in the UK, without the confidence and experience to do so, most likely at quite some speed to cause death is unexcusable and deserve punishment.

That some people think that it isn't is really shocking and is yet another symbol of this growing attitude of refusing to accept responsibility for any of our actions. It happened because of her, it is her fault, of course she should face to what she's done.

I really do hope that if she doesn't come back to face court, her life is ruined by nightmare and the weight of guilt, because she doesn't deserve to move on unaffected.

I don't think she should have run away- but it was predictable that she would do so.

I believe we have waived DI in the past at the request of the US. I don't believe the US will do the same though.

back in the real world, most people would have done exactly the same - leave the foreign country and go home, and stay with your own kids.

As the case is so public, she should stay out of the driver seat from now, that story will follow her.

I think what is a bigger issue than the diplomatic immunity, because the same could happen to a Brit in the US and they could leave in the same way, is will the Americans try her over there. If they decline to waive her immunity, which they will as they barely ever waive it, then they should investigate the accident and charge/try her over there, especially as it appears she has had driving issues before. Obviously it would be better for her to happen there because the sanctions are much lower.

If they absolutely won't waive the DI then that's what should be getting pushed for as that is the next step.

It’s absolutely awful. I cannot imagine how much worse all of this is making that poor family’s pain. I am sure the woman who did it feels wretched and it was just a tragic lapse in concentration that had horrific consequences.

Sadly also for the family it has come at a time where politicians on both sides are thick, ineffectual, and couldn’t use diplomacy or anything else to argue their way out of a paper bag.

As an American, I am ashamed. She should be sent back to stand trial. England.s justice system is so close to ours there is no doubt she would have gotten a fair trial. I apologize on behalf of the USA and am ashamed of Trump.

I also wonder who is advising them on the possibility of a civil case, I hope they're not being exploited because diplomatic immunity applies in civil cases too.

I don't think you can claim diplomatic immunity from prosecution in your own country. So if the family go to the US they can sue her there.

Its disgusting, especially since that amazing family were willing to work with her to get a reduced sentence (possibly a suspended sentence). She's got previous for careless driving as well.

"There is no way any country is going to waive diplomatic immunity for this."

Most democratic countries waive diplomatic immunity for offences committed in other democracies

The UK does

The US always requests that other countries waive immunity for offences in the US, but does not reciprocate

IIRC the family were talking about a suspended sentence for her. They were interviewed on the BBC earlier in the week and they did not want her separated from her own children. But they did want it to go to court.

It needs to be sorted out whether Anne Socoolas has diplomatic immunity or not...............though as CoalTit says earlier it seems not.
If not Mrs Socoolas should get back to the UK immediately.
Regardless of DI or not she should still come back.
Perhaps it was a terrible unavoidable accident caused by a momentary lapse in concentration (everyone who's ever driven has had at least one.)
Or perhaps it was an accident that could have been avoided.
The type of accident caused where it has been proven in a court of law that the driver had been speeding, had been using a mobile phone, was under the influence of drink or drugs, not insured or didn't have a driving licence.
And occasionally the 'driver' being prosecuted wasn't the actual driver e.g. the Chris Huhne & Vicky Pryce case www.google.co.uk/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/uk/2013/mar/11/chris-huhne-vicky-pryce

Harry Dunn's family need to know the truth.

I am not sure this is what diplomatic immunity was supposed to be used for ?

I wonder what the US would do if it was one of the Beckhams who'd got killed or some other high profile person. I bet it wouldn't be scrapped under the carpet like it is with this boy.

Justice is so much ruled by fame, money and the media sadly.

I think it's disgusting she left. I don't necessarily think a jail term is appropriate though (if she has kids) - hefty fine, conviction, driving ban and /or significant community service would be appropriate. I don't think the diplomatic immunity if true would necessarily stop the family taking civil action though?

The woman should have definitely stayed put.

I’ve lived in various countries, all driving on the opposite side of the road. The comments about her having lived in the U.K. for 3 weeks show a lack of understanding of what it is like to live in a foreign country, drive regularly on the same stretch of road and go into autopilot.

Yes it was awful. However what she did is actually very easily done if you don’t remember to consciously tell yourself to drive on the opposite side.

It took me a couple of years when I came home before I could completely relax and know I wouldn’t turn around and suddenly be faced with the question of which side of the road I needed to be.

She shouldn’t have run away but she’s the wife of a spy someone said. She’s going to run.

rumour is that her husband was working for US intelligence

I hope her, husband & their children are banned from UK for life. And all overseas territories, too.

I don't know if she should go to prison or not, but she should return and face this. It's the least she can do for Harry's family.

If it was just a pure accident then that will come out at trial. Driving 400ms on the wrong side of the road doesn't sound like that though, it sounds like it was dangerous driving.

Of course accidents do happen but there's a difference between a pure accident that can't be avoided and driving badly causing someone to die.

I believe people believed the so called “special relationship” would get justice for the family.

Well this has exposed that thinking as delusional. She won’t come back.

Bring the b**ch back. She shouldn't be above the law. It seems you can get away with murder these days.

www.change.org/p/government-justice-for-harry-dunn-withdraw-diplomatic-immunity-to-anne-socoolas-us-diplomats-wife

Sorry for the daily mail article.

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7560371/Mother-man-killed-accident-car-driven-diplomats-wife-urged-fight-justice.html

www.gofundme.com/f/Justice4harry

I read the family’s interview last night and was in tears reading it.

They were clear they wanted her to be held account but not go to jail as she has kids.

The fact that she left the country I think may have changed this view. Absolutely shocking cowardly behaviour.