Page 8 - ARUBA TODAY

A8 WORLD NEWS
Saturday 21 december 2019
UK charges US diplomat's wife over teen's death in crash

By JILL LAWLESS matic channels for Sacoo-
Associated Press las to be sent back to Brit-
LONDON (AP) — An Ameri- ain.
can diplomat's wife who Sacoolas's lawyer, Amy Jef-
left the U.K. after being in- fress, said her client had
volved in a road accident co-operated fully with the
that killed a British teenag- investigation but "will not
er has been charged with return voluntarily to the
causing death by danger- United Kingdom to face a
ous driving, British prosecu- potential jail sentence for
tors said Friday. what was a terrible but un-
The Crown Prosecution intentional accident."
Service said it had begun "We made that promise to
extradition proceedings him the night we lost him to
against Anne Sacoolas. seek justice, thinking it was
The decision to charge going to be really easy,"
Sacoolas, who has claimed she said. "We had no idea
diplomatic immunity, has it was going to be this hard
caused tensions between and it would take this long,
the U.K. and the United but we really feel it is one
States. British Foreign Sec- huge step towards that
retary Dominic Raab wel- promise we made Harry."
comed the move but the The tragedy has caused
State Department called it a diplomatic dispute be-
unhelpful. tween Britain and the U.S.
British police say 19-year- The family of Harry Dunn, from left, mother Charlotte Charles, stepfather Bruce Charles, family over Sacoolas' legal status.
spokesman Radd Seiger, father Tim Dunn and stepmother Tracey Dunn speak to the media outside
old motorcycle rider Harry the Ministry Of Justice in London, Friday, Dec. 20, 2019. Under the Vienna Conven-
Dunn died in August when Associated Press tion on Diplomatic Rela-
he was hit by a car driven tions, families of diplomats
by Sacoolas, whose hus- Britain after the crash. Britain's prosecution ser- lowing a thorough review are granted immunity from
band was an intelligence Dunn's family has urged her vice said it had authorized of the evidence available." arrest or detention. British
officer at RAF Croughton, to return and face British police to charge Sacoolas Prosecutors said they had prosecutors maintain that
a military base in central justice, and met with U.S. with causing death by dan- begun extradition pro- immunity does not apply
England used by U.S. forc- President Donald Trump in gerous driving — which car- ceedings although it is up to dependants of consular
es. Sacoolas claimed dip- Washington as part of their ries a maximum sentence to the government to for- officials based outside of
lomatic immunity and left campaign. of 14 years in prison — "fol- mally ask through diplo- London.q

UK lawmakers set to vote on Boris Johnson’s Brexit bill

By JILL LAWLESS the country's new Conser- from agreeing to extend
Associated Press vative-dominated Parlia- the transition period with
LONDON (AP) — British law- ment. The vote to approve the EU.
makers are set to hold their the Withdrawal Agreement That has set off alarm bells
first major vote on Prime Bill in principle will set Britain among businesses, who
Minister Boris Johnson's on course to leave the Eu- fear that means the coun-
Brexit bill Friday. It is all but ropean Union as scheduled try will face a "no-deal"
certain to be approved by on Jan. 31. That was the Brexit at the start of 2021.
Johnson has stripped out
parts of the bill which gave
lawmakers a role in nego-
tiating a future trade deal
with the EU and required
ministers to provide regular
updates to Parliament. The
In this photo made available by the UK Parliament, Britain's clauses were added earlier
Prime Minister Boris Johnson, center, attends the debate in the in the year in an attempt
A great opportunity exist to work in a dynamic House of Commons, London, Thursday Dec. 19, 2019. to win opposition lawmak-
company, for compelling, ambitious individuals. Associated Press ers' support -- backing that
We have openings for; key campaign promise of the power to get his way. Johnson no longer needs.
Johnson, who won a com- The bill commits Britain to The bill is expected to com-
Gemologist manding parliamentary leaving the EU on Jan. 31 plete its passage through
majority in last week's U.K. and to concluding trade Parliament in January, in
Diamond Grader general election. talks with the bloc by the time for Britain to leave the
Previous attempts to pass end of 2020. Trade experts 28-nation bloc on Jan. 31.
Jewelry Appraiser a Brexit deal through the and EU officials say striking The divorce deal also
U.K. Parliament foundered a free trade deal within 11 needs to be ratified by the
as lawmakers objected to months will be a struggle, European Parliament. Euro-
sections of the agreement but Johnson insists he won't pean Parliament vice presi-
and demanded a big- agree to any more de- dent Pedro Silva Pereira
ger say in the process. But lays, and the bill has been said officials expect that to
Johnson's victory gives him amended to bar ministers happen by Jan. 29.q