The wife of an American diplomat is being held in a criminal case in the UK
2022.12.06 07:59
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The wife of an American diplomat is being held in a criminal case in the UK
Budrigannews.com – A British court has stated that Anne Sacoolas, the wife of a U.S. diplomat, will not return to Britain for this week’s sentencing after admitting to causing the death of a teenager by driving carelessly in England three years ago.
In August 2019, 19-year-old Harry Dunn passed away after his motorcycle was struck by a vehicle driven on the wrong side of the road by Sacoolas near RAF Croughton, a U.S. military air force base in the English county of Northamptonshire.
Sacoolas, whose husband was an intelligence officer for the United States at the base, fled Britain shortly after the accident on the grounds of diplomatic immunity from criminal prosecution, and the United States refused to extradite her.
Sacoolas denied causing death by dangerous driving in October, but he admitted the less serious charge when he appeared in London’s Old Bailey court via videolink from the United States. In the past, the judge had instructed her to personally attend the Thursday sentencing.
Tuesday, the Old Bailey released a statement announcing the renewal of an application for Sacoolas to participate in the trial and receive a videolink sentence.
“In support of the application, the defense has provided evidence, including evidence that Mrs. Sacoolas’ government employer has advised her not to attend in person.” The application has been granted, according to the statement.
A spokesperson for Dunn’s family, Radd Seiger, stated that they were “horrified.”
He added, “On the surface, it appears that this is nothing short of a cowardly act on the part of an oppressor,” and that he had requested an immediate meeting with Foreign Secretary James Cleverly to inquire about the government’s plans.
The accident sparked a diplomatic row between Washington and London, and the British government supported the call for Sacoolas to be tried.
Guidelines recommend either a community order or a shorter prison sentence for the charge she admitted, which carries a maximum prison sentence of five years.
