Has Harry's Mum outclassed Trump?

[T00ts]

They are discussing it now in HofC. So many mistakes, so many let downs for the parents, and to be honest it looks like lack of Embassy aid in USA. Raab says they weren't asked. If we knew they were going where was the Ambassador? In the shower? On the golf course? Why didn't he simply demand access while Trump put on his ambush.

[Thomas]

I totally agree with you but to run never looks good. Harry's family is entitled to see justice done. I can imagine clemency being sought and given but the point is that she should have stayed and not claimed immunity she wasn't entitled to.

Well said toots.



The original incident may or may not have been anything more than some tragic accident , but running away from it never ever looks good  .



totally agree.

[patman post]

I wonder why the Police bailed her or allowed her to go free before checking with the Home Office / Foreign Office about the matter of diplomatic immunity. It all seems a bit of a procedural bungle.

Another good point — too frequently the UK appears to bungle extradition and legal cases involving British citizens abroad and foreign nationals. The history of extraditing IRA suspects from the US right through to worsening the situation of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe shows too much incompetence...

[Barry]

I totally agree with you but to run never looks good. Harry's family is entitled to see justice done. I can imagine clemency being sought and given but the point is that she should have stayed and not claimed immunity she wasn't entitled to.

I wonder why the Police bailed her or allowed her to go free before checking with the Home Office / Foreign Office about the matter of diplomatic immunity. It all seems a bit of a procedural bungle.

[patman post]

I totally agree with you but to run never looks good. Harry's family is entitled to see justice done. I can imagine clemency being sought and given but the point is that she should have stayed and not claimed immunity she wasn't entitled to.

You've covered it all.

And my extra two cents worth is that this wasn't just a parking or speeding offence and fine that many of us would be pleased with ourselves for running away from. In this case someone died because the driver was on the wrong side of the road — either through mistake or carelessness, and when we make a serious error with fatal consequences we deserve to be given a penalty.

Yes, the parents come across as better people than Trump...

[T00ts]

I totally agree with you but to run never looks good. Harry's family is entitled to see justice done. I can imagine clemency being sought and given but the point is that she should have stayed and not claimed immunity she wasn't entitled to.

[Paulus de B]

They'd count it as 'careless' rather than 'dangerous' driving, wouldn't they? There'd be close to zero chance of her being locked up for it, and any driving ban would only apply in Britain.  The victim's family just want their day in court.



https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-highway-code/annex-5-penalties">https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-highway ... -penalties">https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-highway-code/annex-5-penalties

http://www.brake.org.uk/sharpen-up/15-facts-a-resources/facts/497-inadequate-criminal-charges-for-drivers-who-kill-and-maim-through-bad-driving-in-the-uk">http://www.brake.org.uk/sharpen-up/15-f ... -in-the-uk">http://www.brake.org.uk/sharpen-up/15-facts-a-resources/facts/497-inadequate-criminal-charges-for-drivers-who-kill-and-maim-through-bad-driving-in-the-uk

[Wiggles]

Whilst my heart goes out to the family in question, this was a tragic accident, and an ACCIDENT it was. Everyone makes mistakes, and very occasionally these mistakes result in someone getting hurt or killed. The woman in question will have to live with this for the rest of her life, and perhaps it's a little harsh locking her up in prison for something she surely didn't want to happen or mean. In 1990 I remember driving in the States, and my parents and family were with me. I drove for a few hundred yards on the wrong side of the road before my father pointed it out. Fortunately nobody came the other way. My crime was equal to hers, but I got away with it. Perhaps it would be a fairer world if we were punished for our mistakes, rather than the result of our mistakes.

[cromwell]

The yanks don't like their own facing foreign justice,yet their own system seems to me at least very flawed.

[T00ts]

What a sad tale. I travel that road quite regularly. There is a 40 mph limit outside the base and if the American lady had been here less than a year she would not have her UK driving licence which involves taking a test. Now they have a sign reminding them to drive on the left.

 As a USA base do they drive on the right within it? I looked at the entrance and it didn't seem so.

It seems Trump set up a meeting for this distraught family with the lady but with press on standby for a photo-call showing everything is fine. Kudos to Mrs Charles for her presence of mind not to fall into that trap. I fear for this family that no matter what they do in Harry's name, they will never feel that they properly get the justice that they so obviously deserve.



I have full admiration for them and Mrs Charles in particular. She has shown courage and strength in the most difficult of times and there is some gratitude to Sky (I know it's news hours rather than charity) who have presumably financed the action so far, and brought the story out in the open enough for the powers that be to act. I wonder how the USA mothers/fathers feel about it.