![]() ![]() Despite having been charged with death by dangerous driving, Justice Saini and Lord Justice Flaux ultimately held that ‘ Mrs Sacoolas enjoyed immunity from UK criminal jurisdiction at the time of Harry’s death.’ Harry Dunn’s parents have since received confirmation that they can appeal this High Court decision. In a public statement Sacoolas’ lawyers admitted that she had ‘ instinctively’ driven on the ‘ wrong side of the road for 20 seconds before the crash’. Thereafter, Sacoolas returned to, and has remained in, the United States. Harry Dunn’s tragic death on the 27th of August, 2019, was caused by a collision between his motorbike and Ann Sacoolas’ vehicle. On the 24th of November, 2020, the High Court dismissed the judicial review challenge brought by the parents of Harry Dunn, Charlotte Charles and Tim Dunn, against the Foreign Office’s decision that Ann Sacoolas was entitled to diplomatic immunity from prosecution. Indeed, we have recently seen this immunity result in a cruel denial of justice in the case of Ann Sacoolas’ manslaughter of Harry Dunn. Those enjoying these privileges, must nonetheless ‘ respect the laws and regulations of the receiving State.’ The question arises then, of whether this immunity has the potential to go too far and to prevent prosecution for even the most serious of offences, such as manslaughter, rape, and murder. It provides that neither diplomats, nor their families may be prosecuted for any crime or civil case. Under the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, a ‘ diplomatic agent shall enjoy immunity from the criminal jurisdiction of the receiving State.’ Around 23,000 people in the UK have diplomatic immunity. As we turn to exit Brexit and numerous UK laws need reconsideration, will there be any changes to diplomatic immunity? An Intern explores the interesting topic of diplomatic immunity. ![]()
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