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Anne Sacoolas has diplomatic immunity. There's zero relation between the two kinds of discussions.

by jki275 7y ago

samwillis 7y ago
She may have diolomatic immunity in theory (which is something that should exist and has very good reasons to), however this case shows quite clearly that there are circumstances where it is important to have exceptions. Diplomatic immunity is to protect diplomats from being influenced by their host country, this is about the death of a man and is in no way being used to influence her or her husband. The UK and US should come to some sort of compromise in this case, even if it is her standing trial remotely, via video, with the agreement that any sentence is cared out in the US.
- tialaramex 7y ago
  It's also probably not actually true that she was entitled to immunity. Which is why she left. If she was entitled to immunity she wouldn't need to leave, the most a host country can do about actual diplomats is tell them they're not welcome any more ("persona non grata") and then their sponsor will arrange for them to leave. If she was still in the UK they'd have arrested her already because she isn't actually immune. Her husband was a spook. But spooks aren't diplomats even if they have paperwork which insists otherwise as part of their cover. He didn't work at an embassy, he worked at a US site specifically for spying, a site that exists because it suits the British and American governments to have American spies in Britain doing this sort of thing, no diplomacy involved.
retrac 7y ago
The country sending a person with diplomatic immunity can waive said immunity to allow their diplomat to be prosecuted. It's actually pretty common to do so, when the alleged crime is serious, unrelated to their diplomatic service, and the ex-diplomat can expect a fair trial. At least between countries with reasonably good relations. Even where extradition isn't possible, cooperation in prosecution is usually expected. For example, a couple decades ago, a drunk-driving Russian diplomat killed a pedestrian in Ottawa. While Russia does not extradite their citizens, they did cooperate with the Canadian authorities to prosecute him for the crime in Russia, where he was convicted and imprisoned.
- lonelappde 7y ago
  Is there a list of such cases where diplomats were prosecuted?
  - retrac 7y ago
    Not a specific list for that, that I know of. I've seen a good number of such cases over the years in the news though, most often for drunk driving. Wikipedia's article on diplomatic immunity has a variety of cases: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diplomatic_immunity#Vehicular_assault_and_drunk_driving https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diplomatic_immunity#Vehicular_... Some incidents end in waiving of immunity and prosecution in the receiving country. Some end in prosecution by the home country. Some end in the accused getting away with no legal consequences. Some search engine digging finds other examples.
teh_klev 7y ago
> Anne Sacoolas has diplomatic immunity Others would beg to differ, I suggest you have a read of: https://www.craigmurray.org.uk/archives/2019/10/jonathan-sacoolas-is-not-and-has-never-been-a-diplomat/ https://www.craigmurray.org.uk/archives/2019/10/jonathan-sac... https://www.craigmurray.org.uk/archives/2019/10/the-foreign-office-must-be-challenged-over-sacoolas-immunity/ https://www.craigmurray.org.uk/archives/2019/10/the-foreign-...
fit2rule 7y ago
Assange didn't kill anyone and then flee the country to escape justice, either.

Anne Sacoolas has diplomatic immunity. There's zero relation between the two kinds of discussions.

by jki275 7y ago

Anne Sacoolas has diplomatic immunity. There's zero relation between the two kinds of discussions.

She may have diolomatic immunity in theory (which is something that should exist and has very good reasons to), however this case shows quite clearly that there are circumstances where it is important to have exceptions. Diplomatic immunity is to protect diplomats from being influenced by their host country, this is about the death of a man and is in no way being used to influence her or her husband. The UK and US should come to some sort of compromise in this case, even if it is her standing trial remotely, via video, with the agreement that any sentence is cared out in the US.

tialaramex 7y ago
It's also probably not actually true that she was entitled to immunity. Which is why she left. If she was entitled to immunity she wouldn't need to leave, the most a host country can do about actual diplomats is tell them they're not welcome any more ("persona non grata") and then their sponsor will arrange for them to leave. If she was still in the UK they'd have arrested her already because she isn't actually immune. Her husband was a spook. But spooks aren't diplomats even if they have paperwork which insists otherwise as part of their cover. He didn't work at an embassy, he worked at a US site specifically for spying, a site that exists because it suits the British and American governments to have American spies in Britain doing this sort of thing, no diplomacy involved.

retrac 7y ago

The country sending a person with diplomatic immunity can waive said immunity to allow their diplomat to be prosecuted. It's actually pretty common to do so, when the alleged crime is serious, unrelated to their diplomatic service, and the ex-diplomat can expect a fair trial. At least between countries with reasonably good relations. Even where extradition isn't possible, cooperation in prosecution is usually expected. For example, a couple decades ago, a drunk-driving Russian diplomat killed a pedestrian in Ottawa. While Russia does not extradite their citizens, they did cooperate with the Canadian authorities to prosecute him for the crime in Russia, where he was convicted and imprisoned.

lonelappde 7y ago
Is there a list of such cases where diplomats were prosecuted?
- retrac 7y ago
  Not a specific list for that, that I know of. I've seen a good number of such cases over the years in the news though, most often for drunk driving. Wikipedia's article on diplomatic immunity has a variety of cases: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diplomatic_immunity#Vehicular_assault_and_drunk_driving https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diplomatic_immunity#Vehicular_... Some incidents end in waiving of immunity and prosecution in the receiving country. Some end in prosecution by the home country. Some end in the accused getting away with no legal consequences. Some search engine digging finds other examples.

teh_klev 7y ago

> Anne Sacoolas has diplomatic immunity Others would beg to differ, I suggest you have a read of: https://www.craigmurray.org.uk/archives/2019/10/jonathan-sacoolas-is-not-and-has-never-been-a-diplomat/ https://www.craigmurray.org.uk/archives/2019/10/jonathan-sac... https://www.craigmurray.org.uk/archives/2019/10/the-foreign-office-must-be-challenged-over-sacoolas-immunity/ https://www.craigmurray.org.uk/archives/2019/10/the-foreign-...

fit2rule 7y ago

Assange didn't kill anyone and then flee the country to escape justice, either.