US diplomat kills two Pakistanis in Lahore

If this guy is a low level employee and not Intel, the US will send a few strongly worded letters and then let him rot, I am afraid.

There is a lot of speculation that he is Intel.
The US govt. seem to be making some big noise while the consulate itself and the embassy are playing it very different.
The driver of the second vehicle is likely to be facing charges relating to the 3rd fatality but should get limited immunity as it was work related.

[Gerald]

LAHORE, Pakistan – A Pakistani court ordered the government Tuesday not to release an American official arrested in the shooting deaths of two Pakistanis despite U.S. insistence that he has diplomatic immunity and has been detained illegally.

Lahore High Court Chief Justice Ijaz Chaudhry also told the government to place the American on the "exit control list" so that he cannot leave the country. Some legal experts questioned whether the court had the authority to issue such orders, but the rulings could further complicate what has become a serious diplomatic spat between the two countries.

The U.S. Embassy in Islamabad has argued that the American, who it has not named, acted in self-defense when he shot the two men in Lahore last Thursday because they were trying to rob him at gunpoint. It has issued several statements insisting he has diplomatic immunity and demanding he be released.

A copy of the American's passport obtained by The Associated Press identifies him as 36-year-old Raymond Allen Davis.

http://www.foxnews.com/world/2011/02...rican-suspect/


Note Update record, Published February 01, 2011

The plot thickens, what exactly is the status of a private security contractor when it comes to diplomacy?
Could they call him a mercenary or a spy and charge him for that too just for a laugh since it increasingly appears he has no immunity status.

[Platapus]

Originally Posted by Tribesman

The plot thickens, what exactly is the status of a private security contractor when it comes to diplomacy?
Could they call him a mercenary or a spy and charge him for that too just for a laugh since it increasingly appears he has no immunity status.

A private security contractor would have no such status. And yes, depending on the interpretation of mercenary he could be charged as such.

[Torvald Von Mansee]

Originally Posted by Tribesman

The plot thickens, what exactly is the status of a private security contractor when it comes to diplomacy?
Could they call him a mercenary or a spy and charge him for that too just for a laugh since it increasingly appears he has no immunity status.

You're only gleeful because the guy is American.

Pathetic, really.

You're only gleeful because the guy is American.

What planet are you on?

Oh I get it.....

I do believe diplomatic immunity is absolute, and this guy NEVER should have even been taken into custody, let alone held.

....planet clueless in the CAPS LOCK system.

[Jimbuna]

If it turns out he has no immunity then his only mitigation can be self defence.

The moral being....don't try to rob somebody whilst carrying firearms if they are also armed.

[Platapus]

The issue of immunity should be pretty clear.

Diplomatic agents have it
Technical staff at the embassy have it
Support staff at the embassy don't

Consulars don't have it for felony type crimes
Technical staff at the consulate don't have it for felony type crimes
Support staff at the consulate don't have it at all.

This guys status should already be established before he entered the country. Strange that specifics about his credentials are not being released.

Strange that specifics about his credentials are not being released.

Indeed, both governments would have all the paperwork as would the embassy/consular office, any one of which could instantly resolve all questions about status....yet nothing at all has been put up which suggests that there is nothing, after all you wouldn't leave a person in custody if you could instantly get them released would you.