Anne Sacoolas, wife of U.S. diplomat Jonathan Sacoolas, pleaded guilty to causing the death of a teenage British motorcyclist in a high-profile case that caused a diplomatic rift between the United States and the United Kingdom.
Sacoolas, 45, pleaded guilty to death by careless driving in order to avoid harsher sentencing under a death by dangerous driving charge, according to the BBC. Death by careless driving carries a maximum sentence of five years imprisonment, while death by dangerous driving, prior to June 28, carries a maximum of 14 years in prison, according to the U.K. sentencing council. Sacoolas appeared in court via video link from the U.S. to hear her conviction.
BIDEN ‘ACTIVELY ENGAGED’ IN CASE OF BRITISH TEENAGER KILLED BY SUSPECTED CIA AGENT
In August 2019, Harry Dunn was killed after being hit outside a U.S. military base by Sacoolas’s car, which was driving on the wrong side of the road. The U.S. asserted diplomatic immunity on her behalf, allowing her to leave the country 19 days after the incident. The Trump and Biden administrations have maintained the decision, despite lobbying from the Dunn family and U.K.
At the time of the crash, Sacoolas was “employed by an intelligence agency in the U.S.,” her lawyer revealed to an Alexandria district court, according to the Independent. Her employment status likely played a large role in the U.S. decision to refuse her extradition. A district judge also confirmed that Sacoolas was employed by the State Department at the time of the accident after ruling that a wrongful death lawsuit filed by Dunn’s family would proceed in Virginia, according to NPR.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
Prosecutor Duncan Atkinson KC accepted the plea deal. Her sentencing will be held in November. The family of Dunn was sitting in court when the conviction was read.
