David Lammy to ask US about case of woman strangled by US fighter in UK
Summary
David Lammy, the UK justice secretary, is asking the US government for a full explanation about a case where a US pilot strangled a woman in the UK but was tried only by the US military. The pilot was convicted by a US court martial but did not face trial in British courts, raising concerns about how such crimes are handled on UK soil.Key Facts
- A US air force pilot strangled Sarah Steele, an academic, at his home in Cambridge, UK.
- Cambridgeshire police handed the investigation over to the US military, which prosecuted the pilot at a US base in the UK.
- The pilot, Captain Jacob Wulfson, was convicted of strangling but acquitted of sexual assault by a US military court with an all-male jury.
- He received a six-month sentence at a US military corrections facility and was dismissed from the air force.
- British officials are reviewing the case and discussing it with the US government to understand what happened fully.
- The case highlights an agreement allowing US military courts to try some crimes committed by US personnel in the UK, even if off duty.
- More than 12,000 US military personnel are stationed on at least 15 bases in the UK.
- Some UK politicians argue these crimes should be investigated and tried in UK courts to ensure justice for victims.
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