The wife of a US diplomat was sentenced Thursday to eight months suspended prison for killing a British youth in a car accident in 2019.
Anna Sacoolas, who appeared by videoconference from the United States, was found guilty of causing the death of 19-year-old Harry Dunn in August 2019.
The tragedy occurred near a US base in southern England when Sacoolas crashed his vehicle into Dunn’s motorcycle. The woman was driving on the wrong side of the road.
After the accident, the driver appealed her immunity and refused to return to Britain to face justice. The United States refused to extradite her.
The case caused tensions between the two countries for two years, but in December 2021, the British authorities managed to have the defendant appear by videoconference before a London court.
The diplomat’s wife denied in October that she was guilty of reckless driving, but admitted to having negligently drivena crime that carries lighter penalties.
After passing sentence, the judge found that Sacoolas had shown "true regrets".
The British Foreign Secretary said in a statement that he hoped the ruling would allow Dunn’s family "turn page".
Government "learned important lessons from this tragic incident"For example to improve "the processes of exemption and diplomatic immunity"he added.
A suspended prison sentence exempts the sentenced person from detention, as long as he complies with a series of obligations.
