American woman leaves UK after claiming diplomatic immunity
An American woman is a suspect in the case of a fatal car crash in the U.K. She left the country after claiming diplomatic immunity; criminal defense attorney Jonna Spilbor weighs in.
President Trump on Wednesday said he would speak to the wife of an Amerian diplomat, who left Britain after she became a suspect in a deadly wrong-way car crash that killed a teenager, an exit resulting in an outcry from U.K. leaders and a debate over diplomatic immunity.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson urged Trump to force the woman identified as Anne Sacoolas to return to face questioning by authorities. She left the United Kingdom even though she'd assured authorities she had no plans to do so following the Aug. 27 death of 19-year-old Harry Dunn.
Dunn was killed when his motorcycle allegedly collided with a car near RAF Croughton, a British military base near Oxford that’s home to a signals intelligence station operated by the U.S. Air Force.
Trump called it a "terrible accident" and said his administration would talk to the driver "and see what we can come up with."
BRITISH MOM OF TEEN WHO DIED IN ACCIDENT APPEALS TO TRUMP TO WAIVE AMERICAN’S DIPLOMATIC IMMUNITY
Sacoolas, whom Johnson named as a suspect on Monday, is the wife of Johnathan Sacoolas, who works at the base. Johnson reportedly urged Trump "to reconsider the U.S. position (of diplomatic immunity) so the individual involved can return to the U.K., cooperate with police and allow Harry's family to receive justice."
Trump said it was "a complex issue ... because we are talking about diplomatic immunity," Politico reported.
US DIPLOMAT'S WIFE LEAVES THE UK AS POLICE PROBE DEADLY AUGUST CRASH
"You have two wonderful parents who lost their son, and the woman was driving on the wrong side of the road," Trump added. "That happens. I will not say it ever happened to me, but it did."
He noted that Brits drive on the left side of the road, as opposed to the United States, where motorists drive on the right side.
During a hospital visit on Monday, Johnson said he hoped Sacoolas would come back, adding that diplomatic immunity shouldn't be used for "this type of purpose."
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Under international law, diplomats and their families can avoid prosecution for crimes committed in a foreign country unless immunity is waived by the diplomat's home country. A deal between the American and British governments gives diplomatic immunity to diplomats and their families based at the Croughton base.
Previously, only diplomats and their dependents based in London were entitled to the privilege.
In a statement to Fox News, a State Department spokesperson said immunity is rarely waived.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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