Anne Sacoolas

Anyone who makes a mistake, whether accidentally or on purpose - should have the courtesy to apologise for that mistake. In this case that includes following the laws of the land and attending court to discover the true circumstances, and being punished if necessary.

To try to escape that process shows a dreadful lack of morals in my view. Mr Trump's comments show his as well.

This episode has been used by the U.K. authorities to try to get the US immunity issue changed, the family’s grief has been used for political purposes. I particularly criticize the police for starting this campaign they should have accepted the status quo, now it has gone all the way to the White House and a firm “she stays in the US” has been established.

She has not been identified on camera, all we have seen is a wedding photograph, so the US military want to keep it that way, which is why she was sent back in the first place. Wether diplomatic immunity was official is uncertain, her husband is probably a high ranking spook about whom we have heard nothing, the US don’t want him identified through her. In short the families emotions are second to the security risks, and sometimes we have to accept “that is the way it is”.

The US is pretty much omnipotent and this is a very small issue in relationship terms, they can send a drone halfway round the globe to kill a suspected terrorist and maybe dozens of others closeby, no judge, no jury just intelligence, again “that’s the way it is” and nothings going to change.

I heard their lawyer on radio this morning saying he was the one who refused the meeting. He felt Trump would use it as a photo opportunity and would do nothing for the family. I don't believe this woman will ever voluntarily return to the UK and Trump has made it clear that her diplomatic immunity remains in force.

Probably the only course open to the family now is to take out a private law suit against her claiming damages - it will not bring their son back but at least it would mean she faced some sort of justice for her actions.

“Probably the only course open to the family now is to take out a private law suit against her claiming damages - it will not bring their son back but at least it would mean she faced some sort of justice for her actions.”

No point is doing that it will get vetoed, best option is to hold a trial in her absence and establish compensation along the usual lines and I’m sure the US government will pay, case closed!

Let’s be realistic death by careless driving carries a lengthy driving ban, in normal circumstances the insurance company pays compensation

bring her back .she done a crime .she should be made to return to england .shame on her....being usa maybe she drove on the wrong side of the road.? that doesnt excuse her for getting a flight back to the usa.

the case is not closed .someone died....a boy .someone's son .someone brother. what would you do if it was your son. CASE closed ??? i think not...

I agree with Pamela.It could happen to any one of us, that coming out of the base ( in another country) you drive for a little way on the wrong side of the road.Have done this myself in Spain when turning out of the supermarket exit.It was daytime and I soon saw my mistake, but it’s easily done.
It’s a tragic accident.
I did read that her husband isn’t a diplomat but then all staff at the base are included in the ‘immunity’.
If it was her own choice to leave the country then it was a poor choice, but given the huge publicity of this case it may not have been safe for her to stay here ( and she couldn’t stay hidden on the base forever.)She may well have been told to go back to the US.
She will have to live with what has happened, and ( to my mind) that is justice enough.Had it been my own son, I would have wanted to speak with her, but that is the choice of Mrs Dunn not to, which she has every right to.

I'm supposing that because this isn't the first accident/incident with this woman, that a jail sentence would have been given in this country followed by the deportation debacle.

This offence is still manslaughter whichever way you look at it and carries a prison sentence in the UK.

I think it’s death by dangerous driving Ellan and it wouldn’t
Automatically carry a prison sentence ( would depend on evidence and circs.)

It would never have been manslaughter ever given what we know. The bar is extremely high for death by dangerous driving. I agree lemon that it was an accident but one that should have been dealt with in a court of law. Most people who cause death in an RTA face the courts and have to live with themselves. She’s got off the first one hadn’t she? It’s not justice enough but it’s the best the poor family can get. She drove for 400 metres apparently - she put her own children in danger as well but they were lucky.

X posts lemon

She should return to the UK and present herself to face British justice. She really ought to meet with her young victim's parents, in the proper, agreed, conditions, again, in the UK. This is not to seek revenge but merely to deliver justice. The US is tenacious in seeking to repatriate people from across the World to face justice in the US, as people in Britain are well aware, in cases of terrorism, cyber hacking and banking irregularities (even where capital punishment may result), but, as in this tragic case, will just not reciprocate. This is inconsistent, unfair and palpably unjust and the UK must not stand for that and be equally tenacious with the USA.

It is not dangerous driving to be that, drunkenness or deliberate dangerous driving is needed, it’s not manslaughter, it’s careless driving.

What would I have done. I certainly would not have allowed my family to be involved in this media circus, of course I would like the culprit to face trial but once she was sent back to the US I would have accepted there would be no trial.

I would not just accept that there would be no trial. I find it despicable that whatever offence she would have been charged with ( if any) can just be swept under the carpet by crying 'diplomatic immunity'. If it was my child I would like to see justice prevail, and that is the top and bottom of it. She won't face the death penalty, she probably won't even get a custodial sentence, but she needs to face a trial.

See my first post on October 8th once the decision was made to send her home there would be no change and there will be none.
It has all been a PR exercise by all sides

The family were literally spirited away back to the US overnight. The children were removed from their local school and no explanation given for their sudden absence. Of course now we know why.

David I wish I had your confidence in how I’d feel so that I could criticise this poor family as you do. ‘Media Circuses’ in this country evoked by families sometimes over years have resulted in miscarriages of justice bring overturned, new laws brought in and wrongs righted. I think they are very brave and dealing with this in the way they choose. I could not be so arrogant and self righteous as to criticise them in their overwhelming loss and the injustice of it all.

It was a mistake anyone in her position could so easily have made. Tragic consequences, but I'm not sure a witch-hunt, which is what this is turning into, is going to help anyone. I think the family would be better advised to stay at home and deal with their grief as best they can.

I'm not at all sure she would be punished for what was obviously a horrible accident.

I feel dreadfully sorry for all involved.

If she had been an ordinary American living here, she would have been prosecuted. We do not routinely say to motorists who kill ‘aah never mind petal, it was an accident, go home and have a nice cup of tea’. Because it was an accident, it doesn’t mean the law wasn’t broken does it?

To call it a witch hunt is callous

There you are then.

Goodness me Gonegirl that is really very unkind to the family. Sort of ‘get over it’ ...?

I don't mean that at all. But I don't see the point in going halfway across the world to chase the woman. Why do that?

I don't suppose anyone believes this woman deliberately knocked down and killed a motorcyclist. It was obviously an accident, although we don't know the exact details. I have sympathy for anyone in this situation.

However, I have more sympathy for the young man's poor parents who, quite rightly in my opinion, want this woman to be treated in the same way as any other driver who has caused a serious injury/fatality. In my opinion, they have behaved perfectly reasonably and are not demanding vengeance but simply that she should have the decency and courage to submit to British law and explain in Court how the accident occurred.

If it were a member of your family Gonegirl, would you be satisfied with an apology and no legal examination of what happened?

If it were a member of my family I would be on the floor in pieces.

Elolethan ; my sentiments entirely.