When diplomatic immunity is abused!
By Gary Marsh
@garymarsh6 (23393)
United Kingdom
October 7, 2019 3:47am CST
A couple of weeks ago a woman killed a 19 year old man who was riding a motorbike. She had pulled out of an airbase and was driving on the wrong side of the road when she hit the motorbike head on and he died. She claimed diplomatic immunity and despite assurances to the police that she would cooperate with the police investigation she and her family have fled back to the USA.
It is a sad thing to have had an accident but she should have stayed here to face justice and do the right thing. She was not a diplomat but the wife of a diplomat so was able to claim diplomatic immunity. This is so wrong on many accounts that she can attempt to get away with something as heinous as this.
Officials from the foreign office are in negotiations with the US to try to get her back here to face justice. She would more than likely have received some sympathy during any trial but because she has fled the country it does not bode well for her.
Accidents happen but you should face up to what you are responsible for not scarper and leave the poor family in pieces. By leaving the UK it shows a complete lack of conscience and is a cowardly act.
I understand that she is feeling an element of guilt for this but given time but she will have to face up to her moral responsibilities and hopefully face the law not only for the accident but also for her cowardice of leaving the country and fleeing back to the USA.
24 people like this
23 responses
@LadyDuck (460083)
• Switzerland
7 Oct 19
I agree with you Gary, this woman abused and she was not even a Diplomat. I think that the Police should have more freedom to keep people at least for the time necessary to face the procedure, no matter if they are diplomats, politicians or simply famous people.
8 people like this
@garymarsh6 (23393)
• United Kingdom
7 Oct 19
I think with diplomatic pressure she will eventually have to return to the UK to face justice but will put the family through hell and back before justice is seen to be done!
5 people like this
@LadyDuck (460083)
• Switzerland
7 Oct 19
@garymarsh6 I think that this is not correct and the fact that they left should be considered by Justice.
4 people like this
@garymarsh6 (23393)
• United Kingdom
7 Oct 19
She would probably have received a light sentence but to flee the country is a despicable cowardly act. I understand she is probably distressed but what about the distress to this young lads family and friends!
4 people like this
@WriterRuth (268)
• Waialua, Hawaii
12 Oct 19
Yes exactly. I was thinking the same
1 person likes this
@crazyhorseladycx (39515)
• United States
7 Oct 19
i can't e'en pen the words i'm feelin' o'er this, hon. i hope such extradition 'tis soon 'n she faces the max. my heart goes out to the family 'n friends 'f this young fella. a double blow, his loss'n then her hidin' 'hind such 'skirts'.
3 people like this
@crazyhorseladycx (39515)
• United States
9 Oct 19
@garymarsh6 such 'twas'n the news here this eve, most heartbreakin'. i'm certain lawyers prolly told her to flee, not to contact the family'n 'dmit guilt 'n remorse. i dunno how she can live with herself, personally.
i've great hopes that she will return there voluntarily 'n face her punishment fer this soon.
1 person likes this
@garymarsh6 (23393)
• United Kingdom
10 Oct 19
@crazyhorseladycx Well so it seems at the moment that is not going to happen. Be it on her conscience if she has one!
1 person likes this
@garymarsh6 (23393)
• United Kingdom
8 Oct 19
I agree. I am sure she did not go out to do this and must feel horrible in herself but to run away to avoid facing up to her responsibilities is so wrong. If she had spoken to the family to express her remorse and how sad she is to have caused this I am sure they would have got some comfort from that and would have made her look the bigger person in this case. Alas that did not happen despite lying saying she would co operate she fled back to the USA. I would ask that she think what effect that would have had on her children had it been one of them and how would she have felt?
1 person likes this
@Alexandoy (65308)
• Cainta, Philippines
7 Oct 19
I agree that the guilty should face the court and not hide under the immunity of being a foreigner.
4 people like this
@garymarsh6 (23393)
• United Kingdom
7 Oct 19
Very true. I wonder what she would be feeling if the boot was on the other foot and it was her son?
3 people like this
@garymarsh6 (23393)
• United Kingdom
7 Oct 19
There certainly is Dianne. She is going to have to live with that for sometime until she is extradited to face those chances thereby prolonging her agony and that of the family. The chances are that she would probably have been given a light sentence of some kind but by fleeing back to the USA she has made matters so much worse for herself. She told the police she would cooperate with the investigation then shot off. Far too many so called diplomats get away with things when they should be accountable for their actions! The trouble is we are decent people and we have honour!
4 people like this
@DianneN (247216)
• United States
7 Oct 19
@garymarsh6 I’ve read that. Thank goodness we are decent, honorable people.
3 people like this
@WriterRuth (268)
• Waialua, Hawaii
12 Oct 19
@garymarsh6 Of course I don't know her heart and mind, but it comes across as if she does not care.
1 person likes this
@garymarsh6 (23393)
• United Kingdom
7 Oct 19
It is a horrible injustice that she was able to flee the country.
4 people like this
@just4him (308152)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
7 Oct 19
@garymarsh6 Yes, it was. I hope they get her back to face the charges.
3 people like this
@rsa101 (37969)
• Philippines
7 Oct 19
Yeah I understand your sentiment. I think the woman forgot that she is in the wrong side of the road because I know American roads are different from yours. But fleeing and using diplomatic immunity is quite wrong in many aspects and should face trial and accept judgement from your side of things.
I hope US would also cooperate to expedite her and face trial if necessary. I think her escaping makes her look more guilty too.
2 people like this
@garymarsh6 (23393)
• United Kingdom
7 Oct 19
I can understand her fear and distress. Who would not be distressed but she should have done the decent thing and not hide behind diplomatic immunity!
2 people like this
@garymarsh6 (23393)
• United Kingdom
8 Oct 19
The diplomatic community use it to their own advantage but there are times when immunity should be revoked. IF she had murdered a spy or something then that is a different kettle of fish completely although she was not part of the diplomatic corps but her husband was!
@xFiacre (12658)
• Ireland
7 Oct 19
@garymarsh6 A system often abused by the arrogant. Although, neither a diplomat nor the son of a diplomat, I did make use of being a house guest of the American Ambassador to Paris many years ago. I lost my passport and through his good offices got it all sorted out including a limo ride to the steps of the plane, so avoiding the hassle of being a commoner.
3 people like this
@garymarsh6 (23393)
• United Kingdom
7 Oct 19
It is a cowardly act. I understand that she is probably mortified having killed someone but to scarper back to the USA without being questioned is not clever. She will eventually have to answer for her misdeeds so why prolong the suffering for everyone!
2 people like this
@WriterRuth (268)
• Waialua, Hawaii
12 Oct 19
@garymarsh6 Yes I agree that she likely feels mortified and possibly in some sort of shock, but best to deal with all of that through doing the right thing. Perhaps she feels she has shamed her husband as well. But the point still stands about doing right.
@Metsrock69 (3505)
• United States
7 Oct 19
in the case of a crime it should not be honored.
2 people like this
@garymarsh6 (23393)
• United Kingdom
7 Oct 19
I completely agree with you. She will have to face the consequences one day but she has done herself no favours by running back to the USA. She may well have been given a community sentence for example helping out with elderly people or such like. It does not necessarily mean a prison sentence. It will be down to the foreign office to deal with the American authorities to extradite her back here causing heartache for her and for the family which just prolongs the pain!
2 people like this
@garymarsh6 (23393)
• United Kingdom
8 Oct 19
Yes it is a very sad state of affairs.
1 person likes this
@Hannihar (129656)
• Israel
7 Oct 19
@garymarsh6
I would not have sympathy for her and it is not fair she gets immunity. She needs to deal with what she did. I hope they bring her back.
1 person likes this
@garymarsh6 (23393)
• United Kingdom
7 Oct 19
I do hope so to Hanni. It is sad for her but to use the diplomatic immunity is so wrong. She should face the consequences of her actions. Had she stayed then they would probably have been a bit more lenient on her as I am sure she did not do it on purpose surely no one would but to flee in such a cowardly way is reprehensible. I am sure it will take years to get her back here to face justice.
1 person likes this
@garymarsh6 (23393)
• United Kingdom
7 Oct 19
@Hannihar IF she had been seen to do the right thing I am sure the courts would have been more sympathetic towards her. It must have been an awful experience for her but she could have attempted to comfort the family to help them come to terms with it by showing remorse and expressing her sorry. I know it would have been a hard thing to do but to flee like that makes her seem heartless. Accidents happen we all know that but your actions following such a thing speak louder than words.
1 person likes this
@Hannihar (129656)
• Israel
7 Oct 19
@garymarsh6
They are letting her hide behind diplomatic immunity and should get the punishment she deserves. I agree if she stayed it would be better on her. That is very sad that it will take years for the family to have closure.
1 person likes this
@nela13 (55818)
• Portugal
10 Oct 19
@garymarsh6 Oh, let's hope so but I think those kinds of people are unable to feel remorse.
1 person likes this
@DocAndersen (54407)
• United States
7 Oct 19
This is a really bad issue, diplomatic immunity is granted to protect diplomats while in foreign countries. I do believe the woman should at the very least apologize.
Diplomatic immunity is very rarely waved.
2 people like this
@garymarsh6 (23393)
• United Kingdom
7 Oct 19
@DocAndersen A few years back I think one of the South American countries waived D I on one of its staff following a murder.
As for embarrassment I think we are ahead of you at the moment with the clowns in the Houses of Parliament!
2 people like this
@DocAndersen (54407)
• United States
7 Oct 19
@garymarsh6 diplomatic immunity is very rarely waived by any nation. There have been far worse crimes committed under the protection of diplomatic immunity.
I do agree with you.
The US has an embarrassment of PR riches right now.
2 people like this
@DocAndersen (54407)
• United States
7 Oct 19
@garymarsh6 sadly i think it is a very close race. I would much prefer to lose the race!
1 person likes this
@divalounger (5849)
• United States
8 Oct 19
I heard about this and agree with you--hopefully she gets extradited and faces up to her actions!
1 person likes this
@rebelann (111400)
• El Paso, Texas
8 Oct 19
I just think it's very hard to get used to driving on the right side of the street when all your life you've driven on the left or visa versa @garymarsh6 but you are right, she needs to be made accountable for her actions.
@garymarsh6 (23393)
• United Kingdom
8 Oct 19
I am not sure about the driving here she is the wife of a husband who works in the spy centre based in the UK but she should at least have offered some kind of an apology to the family. She has three children of her own I wonder how she would have felt had the boot been on the other foot and she lost one of her children. I am sure she did not actively go out to do this but she should at least face up to her responsibilities.
1 person likes this
@GreatMartin (23675)
• Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
7 Oct 19
I briefly read the story and all I could think was 'Welcome to Washington DC, USA!
1 person likes this
@garymarsh6 (23393)
• United Kingdom
8 Oct 19
Yes that is about the summing up of it. Don't do as I do, do as I say!!
@Tampa_girl7 (49242)
• United States
14 Oct 19
She should have stayed and been judged by your system.
1 person likes this
@garymarsh6 (23393)
• United Kingdom
14 Oct 19
The silly thing is that she would have probably been given a suspended sentence. But aside for the legal thing as a parent of three of her own children she should have faced the people and apologised at least shown how distraught she was. Generally people are forgiving but by her actions which in all probability were under the advice of the USA government she fled the country!
@Starmaiden (9311)
• Canada
8 Oct 19
If she knew she had immunity, why did she run?
An accident is an accident but a hit and run is a crime she should own up to and be prosecuted for.
1 person likes this
@garymarsh6 (23393)
• United Kingdom
8 Oct 19
Even if it had gone to court I am sure had she shown some remorse then things would have been viewed sympathetically towards her and she would have been likely to have not received a jail sentence. She should be apologising to the poor lads mother and father at the least especially her being a parent to three kids. She should put herself in their place and hope what they would do if it had been the other way around?
1 person likes this
