Tuesday, December 07, 2004

U.S. marine accused of killing local rock star in car crash

Rock artist Teo Peter died Saturday after the taxi car he was traveling in was hit by a Ford belonging to the U.S. Embassy and driven by the commander of the marines assuring the U.S. Embassy security. The marine driving was taken out of the country soon after the accident.

Teo Peter, the founding member of the famous Compact band, was killed Saturday morning at 4.30 in a car accident in downtown Bucharest, according to the police. The taxi that was taking 50-year-old Teo Peter home from a music festival was struck violently by a Ford Expedition car belonging to the U.S. Embassy. The accident took place at the intersection between Dacia Boulevard and Polish Street. The cab was smashed and pushed on to the sidewalk. Although the emergency services soon arrived at the scene, they were unable to save Peter's life. The taxi driver, 28-year-old Marian Chivu, suffered several injuries and was taken to the hospital. His condition is now stable, according to medical source.

The car belonging to the U.S. Embassy was driven by a U.S. marine, Robert Christopher, an employee of the U.S. Embassy, according to several private TV stations.

Eye witnesses said the American driver seemed to be responsible for the crash, as he was driving too fast and did not give way to the cab driver. Police sources said the Embassy's employee had been drinking and was not able to avoid the collision with the taxi. The General Police Department in Bucharest said the 31-year-old American did not pay attention to traffic signs.

According to Bucharest Police, the breathalyzer test showed the American driver had a 0.09 milligrams alcohol level in his blood, where as, under Romanian law, drivers are not allowed to drink at all. When police saw the breathalyzer results, they tried to take the marine to the National Institute of Forensic Medicine to perform a blood test, but he refused, saying the institute does not use the "medical instruments offered by the embassy," according to the police press release.

The U.S. Embassy announced the marine has already been taken out of the country, guarded by a security officer, and is now in a U.S. military base in Europe.

Please read the whole article and tell me what is wrong with the justice system here when it pertains to high-ranking American foreigners.

"The U.S. Embassy employee has "immunity of criminal jurisdiction," according to article 8 in the Romanian Criminal Code, which stipulates that "the penal law does not apply to felonies committed by diplomatic representatives of foreign states or by other people who, according to international conventions, are not liable to criminal jurisdiction of the Romanian state," according to the Foreign Affairs Ministry (MAE)."

When you're careless, breaking traffic rules and driving drunk, which results in the death of one of Romania's most well-beloved musicians, you should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. Imagine if a Romanian was on the road and killed Madonna or Eric Clapton. There would be hell to pay.

3 Comments:

Blogger p.p. said...

A similar incident occurred in Washington, D.C. a few years ago; although, the victim was not a celebrity, but a 13-year-old girl. In that case, the defendant was a Georgian diplomat who was taken out of the US based on diplomatic immunity. However, then Georgian President waved diplomatic immunity for the defendant. I'm not sure whether he stood trial or the matter was settled out of court. I highly doubt the US will wave diplomatic immunity in the Romanian case.

1:40 p.m., December 07, 2004  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I think the marine should be brought back for trial because he's punishable for driving while intoxicated, and vehicular homocide.

I don't know if this would surprise you or not, but during my many visits to the US embassy in Bucharest I have observed employees with beer. In the section where interviews are given there are several windows, and when you peek through 9 times out 10 you'll see a beer sitting on a desk or shelf, and maybe even one of the workers drinking one.

~Torrey

1:07 a.m., December 08, 2004  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Diplomatic Immunity is not just for High Ranking US Officials.
If you remember, a high ranking Russian official was driving drunk in Ottawa a couple of years back, and plowed into a girl, killing her.
The guy was taken back to Russia and tried there.
Hopefully the Marine will be tried by the Americans.

4:36 a.m., December 08, 2004  

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