US diplomat's wife, 42, who 'ran over and killed' British teen outside RAF base before fleeing named

[highplainsdem]

9. Spouses of top diplomats and deputies have immunity, according to NPR, but there's less

Last edited Mon Oct 7, 2019, 04:12 PM - Edit history (1)

immunity for lower-ranking officials:

https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=125736594

The online magazine Slate.com investigated that for its Explainer column. Here's senior editor Andy Bowers.

Mr. ANDY BOWERS (Senior Editor, Slate.com): It depends how high you rank at your embassy. A top diplomat does, indeed, have full immunity, as do any deputies or families members. That means a foreign ambassador can commit just about any crime, from running a red light to murder, and escape prosecution.

Lower ranking officials have what's called functional immunity, that means they're safe as long the crime is committed as part of their diplomatic work. So a consular staffer who punches a U.S. official during a meeting would be fine. But the same punch thrown at a bar on the weekend could land him in jail.

Embassy service staff such as kitchen workers have no special status.

I haven't found anything so far indicating Jonathan Sacoolas is a top diplomat or deputy of some sort.