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Monday, October 7, 2024

US diplomat’s wife charged for killing a British teenager, thorn in US-UK relations

Britain on Friday rebuked the United States for refusing to extradite a diplomat's wife charged over a car crash that killed a British teenager, calling it a "denial of justice". Britain's Extradition Act - 1870, says “A fugitive criminal shall not be surrendered if the offence in respect of which his surrender is demanded is one of a political character.” However, Sacoolas' case is not of a political nature nor is it directly related to consular functions. Yet, the US is still refusing to extradite her to UK.

Britain’s Extradition Act – 1870, says “A fugitive criminal shall not be surrendered if the offence in respect of which his surrender is demanded is one of a political character.” However, Sacoolas’ case is not a political nature nor is it directly related to consular functions. Yet, the US is still refusing to extradite her to UK.

Diplomatic officers and their families are not accorded absolute immunity from a host country’s criminal jurisdiction, they may be tried for certain local crimes upon action by a local court, and are immune from local jurisdiction only in cases directly relating to consular functions.

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GVS News Desk with additional imput from AFP