US Diplomat's wife kills biker in UK then flees country :(
May 15th 2020, 3:04 am
#226
Concierge
Joined: Jan 2013
Location: Western Australia
Posts: 21,140
Re: US Diplomat's wife kills biker in UK then flees country :(
This is one of those problems that should not have degenerated to the depths that it has.
I don't think that anyone considers that Mrs Sakoolas intended to kill Mr Dunn and the charge would have been Death by Careless Driving. https://www.sentencingcouncil.org.uk...erate-driving/ suggests that if convicted she would have faced "Maximum when tried summarily: Level 5 fine and/or 6 months....Maximum when tried on indictment: 5 years"
In cases like this I suspect that the powers that be on all sides would have quietly suggested that the more lenient senetence would have applied.
Mrs Sakoolas should have immediately admitted the offence, plead guilty, appologised profusely, regretted not thinking straight and paid the fine.
The magistrate would have emphasised the serious of the offence and gone on about how US personnel need to be made aware of driving standards etc etc but attennuated this by saying how sorry Mrs Sakoolas was and how a custodial sentence wasn't approriate etc etc.
Mr. Dunn's parents would have accepted the guilty plea, expressed anger over the lenient sentence but a line would have been drawn and the world would have moved on.
But... Somebody with shit for brains suggested she flee the country and we are where we are.
What a mess!
I don't think that anyone considers that Mrs Sakoolas intended to kill Mr Dunn and the charge would have been Death by Careless Driving. https://www.sentencingcouncil.org.uk...erate-driving/ suggests that if convicted she would have faced "Maximum when tried summarily: Level 5 fine and/or 6 months....Maximum when tried on indictment: 5 years"
In cases like this I suspect that the powers that be on all sides would have quietly suggested that the more lenient senetence would have applied.
Mrs Sakoolas should have immediately admitted the offence, plead guilty, appologised profusely, regretted not thinking straight and paid the fine.
The magistrate would have emphasised the serious of the offence and gone on about how US personnel need to be made aware of driving standards etc etc but attennuated this by saying how sorry Mrs Sakoolas was and how a custodial sentence wasn't approriate etc etc.
Mr. Dunn's parents would have accepted the guilty plea, expressed anger over the lenient sentence but a line would have been drawn and the world would have moved on.
But... Somebody with shit for brains suggested she flee the country and we are where we are.
What a mess!
May 15th 2020, 8:00 am
#227
Account Closed
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 26,319
Re: US Diplomat's wife kills biker in UK then flees country :(
I agree with all that Dave. One thing though, Mr Dunn's parents have always been quite clear in their interviews that they don't want to see Ms Sarcoolas given a prison sentence. They've expressed sympathy for her and all they want is justice for their son. Justice to them means that Sarcoolas is required to appear in a court of law where responsibility for their son's death can be determined.
May 15th 2020, 10:09 am
#229
Banned
Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 614
Re: US Diplomat's wife kills biker in UK then flees country :(
I agree with all that Dave. One thing though, Mr Dunn's parents have always been quite clear in their interviews that they don't want to see Ms Sarcoolas given a prison sentence. They've expressed sympathy for her and all they want is justice for their son. Justice to them means that Sarcoolas is required to appear in a court of law where responsibility for their son's death can be determined.
I like your last line because fwiw it is yet to be determined she was actually at fault?
May 15th 2020, 10:24 am
#231
Banned
Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 614
Re: US Diplomat's wife kills biker in UK then flees country :(
If you really believe this, there is no hope for you! 
.... And all this was quite obviously an accident - a stupid one, arguably reckless, but the chances of Sacoolas being sentenced to anything other than probation was always unlikely even if she had stayed to face the music.
Exactly this!
(@Former Lancastrian: I replied before I read your post.)
.... And all this was quite obviously an accident - a stupid one, arguably reckless, but the chances of Sacoolas being sentenced to anything other than probation was always unlikely even if she had stayed to face the music.Exactly this!
(@Former Lancastrian: I replied before I read your post.)
And death by dangerous driving is a maximum of 14 years and was she drunk we don't know. Death by careless 5 or 7 I think. The difference between death by and careless and dangerous I can't explain I am not a legal mind. And any day now they plan to impose a life sentence for death by dangerous driving. Which is fair enough if it is the intention to ban killer drivers from the road for life how do you enforce the ban except with the violation of a lifetime parole.
Last edited by andyrebell; May 15th 2020 at 10:55 am.
May 15th 2020, 11:03 am
#232
Often not so civil...
Joined: Apr 2010
Location: The Boonies, GA
Posts: 9,561
May 15th 2020, 11:07 am
#233
Banned
Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 614
Re: US Diplomat's wife kills biker in UK then flees country :(
May 15th 2020, 11:13 am
#234
Often not so civil...
Joined: Apr 2010
Location: The Boonies, GA
Posts: 9,561
Re: US Diplomat's wife kills biker in UK then flees country :(
And who's going to try her? Is there a Federal driving statue I am unaware of? Will the State she lives in try a case that occurred several thousand miles outside of their jurisdiction? If so and she is found guilty, where would she serve time? Does a State have the authority to deport someone?
Just to save you some time. The answer to all those questions is a resounding NO
Just to save you some time. The answer to all those questions is a resounding NO
May 15th 2020, 6:01 pm
#237
You aint seen me, right?
Joined: Oct 2005
Location: US of A, TN
Posts: 3,573
Re: US Diplomat's wife kills biker in UK then flees country :(
If she went on trial in the US she'd just be given a tap on the wrist, not because the crime was committed in the UK but because that's how they deal with a lot of car accidents. I know of 3 different people that have killed someone due to drunk or distracted driving and they all got off with a fine. It would be a complete waste of resources and time.
May 15th 2020, 6:06 pm
#238
Account Closed
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 26,319
Re: US Diplomat's wife kills biker in UK then flees country :(
If she went on trial in the US she'd just be given a tap on the wrist, not because the crime was committed in the UK but because that's how they deal with a lot of car accidents. I know of 3 different people that have killed someone due to drunk or distracted driving and they all got off with a fine. It would be a complete waste of resources and time.
May 15th 2020, 6:10 pm
#239
Joined: Dec 2001
Location: Dixie, ex UK
Posts: 52,448
Re: US Diplomat's wife kills biker in UK then flees country :(
If she went on trial in the US she'd just be given a tap on the wrist, not because the crime was committed in the UK but because that's how they deal with a lot of car accidents. I know of 3 different people that have killed someone due to drunk or distracted driving and they all got off with a fine. It would be a complete waste of resources and time.
May 15th 2020, 6:59 pm
#240
Forum Regular
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 211
Re: US Diplomat's wife kills biker in UK then flees country :(
AFAIK killing someone while driving drunk is almost always a felony. Distractedness is either not against the law or is a lot harder to prove.