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AIBU?

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Original poster

Anne Sacoolas reckons her offence would be a mere civil matter in the USA

94 replies

lljkk · 09/03/2021 09:16

She's wrong. State of Virginia has vehicular involunary manslaughter that includes prison sentence up to 10 years. Simple reckless behaviour in charge of a vehicle can qualify.

Can't believe no thread about this already. I feel incensed at the statements from Sacoolas' lawyer!

Anne Sacoolas reckons her offence would be a mere civil matter in the USA

OP posts:

MrsBotibolsCruise · 09/03/2021 19:19

@CatOnAHotTinHoof yes absolutely she would be facing a possible custodial sentence if convicted of manslaughter.

I don’t think people are necessarily gunning for the harshest sentence, it’s more the fact that she’s completely evading any semblance of justice by refusing to return to the UK to be tried for killing one of our citizens.

If she did by some miracle be returned (highly doubt she will do so voluntarily) I’d imagine the judge would probably take into account her circumstances and possibly not hand down a long prison sentence.

1FootInTheRave · 09/03/2021 19:25

She is vile.

LakieLady · 09/03/2021 19:27

@CatOnAHotTinHoof

What is the maximum sentence she could have got in this country for this crime? Presumably it could have been a prison sentence?

I vaguely recall that the maximum sentence for causing death by dangerous driving was increased from 2 years to 10.

My memory's not all that though, it may just have been a proposal that never went through.

DynamoKev · 09/03/2021 19:34

Well you can drive a Lorry after your licence has been revoked and uninsured and kill a cyclist then tell lies about it all and only get 45 months - out in about 18, so it doesn't look like she would do much time.

www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/news/derby-news/killer-lorry-driver-made-no-4811917

Bloodypunkrockers · 09/03/2021 19:35

@RabbityMcRabbit

This woman is scum. Anyone who can do what she did then run away from the consequences of her actions is a piece of shit imo. Poor Harry Dunn's family, they are unlikely to ever get closure thanks to her.

That just about sums it up

NiceGerbil · 09/03/2021 19:43

Is it her who said this stuff

Or her lawyer?

Slightly different.

I find it very hard to believe that driving on the wrong side of the road and killing someone because of it is a civil matter.

Although we should also look to our own actions- there have been loads of cases here where drivers have done random things and killed people and got off very lightly. That needs to change imo.

USA do not allow extradition of their citizens I don't think. So why other countries allow extradition to USA is beyond me.

I really feel for the Dunn family.

Butteredtoast55 · 09/03/2021 20:06

Her behaviour is beneath contempt. That poor family are still going through anguish and are just desperate for her to face a fair trial and acknowledge the heartbreak this caused. I appreciate that she didn't mean to kill anyone, and it is horrific, but I cannot imagine the despair of Harry Dunn's family and that would gnaw away at my conscience every single day.

BruceAndNosh · 09/03/2021 20:29

@Lochmorlich

Doesn't surprise me. On US bases everything is run like little America regardless of the country is in. We were asked to do a craft fair years ago on a US base but declined when they insisted we had to take dollars if offered and use the exchange rate they supplied. Obviously on base all driving was on the right. Therefore it would be very difficult to mentally switch to the left when leaving the base.

If you look at RAF Croughton on Google maps, the road markings on base are for left hand driving

NiceGerbil · 09/03/2021 20:44

That's no excuse.

If you take the car on the ferry to France and then from drive on the wrong side of the road and kill someone. Oh whoops it's a bit tricky to remember is not a valid excuse.

Additionally if it's so difficult to remember then the base should drive on the same side as the country to minimise that risk.

Liquorishtoffee · 09/03/2021 20:45

I would assume they have great big signs and road paintings like they do have around ferry ports directing you to the correct size of the road?

changi · 09/03/2021 20:57

Malta and Cyprus are the same as us along with Australia and New Zealand. Also I think Japan drives on the right.

You have missed out a few. 76 countries or territories drive on the left. 163 on the right.

RunningFromInsanity · 09/03/2021 21:06

@NiceGerbil

That's no excuse.

If you take the car on the ferry to France and then from drive on the wrong side of the road and kill someone. Oh whoops it's a bit tricky to remember is not a valid excuse.

Additionally if it's so difficult to remember then the base should drive on the same side as the country to minimise that risk.

Say you did do that. You are on holiday in France with your young children, you make a mistake, drive on the wrong side of the road and kill someone.

Then, say your lawyers and your government say ‘you must come home immediately. It’s completely legal and we will help you’

Would you really look your children in the eye and decide to go to prison? Possibly for 2-10years?

We can all judge her based on what is morally right. But in her situation, not many of us would volunteer to be parted from our children.

Etulosba · 09/03/2021 21:19

Doesn't surprise me.
On US bases everything is run like little America regardless of the country is in.
We were asked to do a craft fair years ago on a US base but declined when they insisted we had to take dollars if offered and use the exchange rate they supplied.
Obviously on base all driving was on the right.
Therefore it would be very difficult to mentally switch to the left when leaving the base.

I used to work on a USAF base in the UK. Everything you say is true. Except the bit about driving on the right. All driving is on the left.

oil0W0lio · 09/03/2021 21:29

Let's not forget that she was happy to go along with trump when he wanted to set up a surprise meeting between Harry dunn's parents and the killer of Harry Dunn
what kind of person could possibly think that was a good idea it's crass beyond belief

SakuraEdenSwan1 · 09/03/2021 21:55

Offering Community service surely is an admission of guilt, what she has put Harry's family through breaks my heart. Poor Niall losing his twin brother, seeing the grief in him. I do not know how she sleeps at night, and what must her children think of her, especially the one in the car when it collided with Harry. I hope Charlotte and Tim and Radd continue to fight and not stop until they get justice for Harry.

Pinkfreesias · 09/03/2021 22:03

It's bad enough that she killed a young man because she was incredibly careless. I think the way she has since acted since, evading responsibility by refusing to return and face trial is beneath contempt. She would receive a fair trial in our far superior justice system. She probably wouldn't even get a prison sentence.

What a heartless shell of a person she is. I don't know how Anne Sacoolas looks at herself in the mirror. I hope her kids learn what she has done, and is doing, one day.

Liquorishtoffee · 09/03/2021 22:10

I believe one of her children was in the car at the time of the crash.

Jijithecat · 09/03/2021 22:40

Aside from anything else I just can't comprehend how Anne Sacoolas can carry on her life with this hanging over her. I don't think it's inevitable that she would even get a custodial sentence.

If she returned to the UK and faced our justice system there would be the opportunity for some form of closure, for the Dunn family and the Sacoolas family.

CoRhona · 09/03/2021 22:56

It's appalling. But as long as we don't give them Andrew, they won't be giving us Anne.

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