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AIBU?

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Original poster

To think Harry Dunn's family are being exploited?

65 replies

XXcstatic · 14/10/2019 19:45

To be clear, I feel desperately sorry for his family and wish there was some way for them to get justice, but..

..there has never been the slightest chance of his alleged (accidental) killer being returned to the UK. No country would return the spouse of a member of their security services in these circumstances, but particularly not the US. It is therefore cruel and exploitative of the media and politicians to pretend to his family that 'raising the issue at high level' will make the slightest difference. It is wrong to give them false hope.

OP posts:
nocoolnamesleft · 14/10/2019 19:47

I think that they need the knowledge that they've tried everything.

Greatnorthwoods · 14/10/2019 19:49

Agree with you OP, nothing is going to happen. She will stay in the US,

Strawberrypancakes · 14/10/2019 19:49

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
XXcstatic · 14/10/2019 19:49

I agree nocoolnamesleft - I completely understand why they are publicising what happened. Please believe me that I feel nothing but sympathy for them and am not criticising them in any way - I just worry that they are being misled.

OP posts:
SleepyKat · 14/10/2019 19:51

I thought the govt have now said that she doesn’t have diplomatic immunity because her husband no longer does the job he did? So can’t she now be extradited?

I feel so sorry for them.

MerryMarigold · 14/10/2019 19:53

SleepyKat, I think diplomatic immunity is only valid when you're in a country not your own. That's how I understand it. So basically it's irrelevant now as she's not in the UK.

TheMonkeyWhale · 14/10/2019 19:54

Diplomatic immunity only works in your host country not your own country.

I think she will be returned to the Uk.

Greatnorthwoods · 14/10/2019 19:59

I suspect her DH will be posted to some quiet outpost in Alaska somewhere and she will just drop off the Radar to quietly live out her life, never to be heard of again.

Roussette · 14/10/2019 20:00

I would be doing exactly what they're doing with or without publicity. I would not just accept with the woman who drove into my son fleeing the country, and that's that.

Harry Dunn's parent are desperately grieving but they appear calm and focussed, I think you OP should give them some credit for doing what they're doing without labelling it exploitation.

Original poster
XXcstatic · 14/10/2019 20:07

I think you OP should give them some credit for doing what they're doing without labelling it exploitation

I am not commenting on what the family are doing, but on the empty promises they are being given by politicians, egged on by the media. The politicians must be well aware that there is no chance of extradition.

OP posts:
dayswithaY · 14/10/2019 20:20

They might have been told there is no hope of justice, we don't know. But you can't blame them for trying, there have been other cases where parents' refusal to give up has secured a conviction. They probably feel they owe it to their son.

MabelMoo23 · 14/10/2019 20:21

I desperately want to believe she’ll be extradited back to the UK to face justice.

As I know if god forbid I did the same thing in the States, the US Government would be screaming for my head and that I be returned back to the US to face justice. So the reverse is no different

Disfordarkchocolate · 14/10/2019 20:26

I think they are being amazingly strong and that their love for their son shines through. I wish I could say the same for the woman who hit their son, week and irresponsible and a terrible example to her son. There is no way she is ever quietly slipping back into a normal life, there has been too much publicity and she will be harshly judged.

user1487194234 · 14/10/2019 20:31

Totally get where the family are coming from but the law on diplomatic immunity is totally entrenched in the justice system and I honestly can't see her being brought back
TBF the original idea was to protect servants of their country as in hostile circumstances

Eeeeeby · 14/10/2019 20:34

It sounds as though there is a good chance she will be extradited. The family are don't the right thing, putting pressure on the authorities in both countries to act.

yellowallpaper · 14/10/2019 20:38

I though her 'diplomatic immunity' had been removed?

EggysMom · 14/10/2019 20:45

Is her husband still over here? The cynic in me can see her returning to the UK - before any extradition - so that she can reclaim diplomatic immunity.

PearlsBeforeWine · 14/10/2019 20:58

It's a bloody joke.

Matthew Broderick was able to leave when he killed somebody in a head on collision in Northern Ireland.

The US just doesn't care. And never has.

Sparklesocks · 14/10/2019 20:59

I can understand why they are trying their best to pursue every avenue they can and every possible channel. It’s absolutely heartbreaking.

Mumoftwoyoungkids · 14/10/2019 21:05

I don’t think the plan is to get the US to extradite. I wonder if the plan is so that everyone she meets, her husband meets and her child meets knows her name and knows what she has done. And so to make her life so untenable that she returns to the U.K. voluntarily.

Heronry · 14/10/2019 21:05

What @Roussette said.

yellowallpaper · 14/10/2019 21:11

Alternatively they can sue her in the American court. She doesn't have diplomatic immunity and especially so in her own country

Roussette · 14/10/2019 21:14

The politicians must be well aware that there is no chance of extradition

Not necessarily. Given that Trump changes his mind as much as the wind, who knows.
They don't want to give up and I don't blame them one little bit. Say it comes to nothing, I am sure they can live their lives a little easier knowing they tried their hardest for their son.

Matthew Broderick killed TWO people in exactly the same circumstances in N Ireland. He got a fine of $175

BubblesBuddy · 14/10/2019 21:22

The news about her no longer having Diplomatic Immunity is a total red herring. Of course she doesn’t, she’s back in the USA. It only applied when she was here.

This now requires extradition, and that’s virtually impossible. The CPS would need to be in a position to charge her in order to apply for extradition. They are not. Trump doesn’t want her back here. It won’t happen. Some things in the world are just not fair.

yellowallpaper · 14/10/2019 21:27

There is a police report so of course the CPS could charge her. How on earth do you think other criminals are extradited? There is evidence from witnesses and forensic evidence. Of course she can be extradited.