David Lammy to ask US about case of woman strangled by US fighter in UK

David Lammy, the deputy prime minister, is raising with the US government the “extremely concerning” case of an American fighter pilot who avoided a trial under English law for strangling a woman at his home in Cambridge. Lammy, who is also the justice secretary, told parliament on Tuesday that he wanted the US government to give a full account of the case of Sarah Steele, an academic who was assaulted by the pilot. He added that officials across the British government were examining the issue as it concerned a number of government departments. His comments follow a pledge by Downing Street to look “really carefully” at what happened to her, with the prime minister’s spokesman calling it “deeply distressing”. Lammy was speaking following an investigation by the Guardian which revealed how the pilot, Captain Jacob Wulfson, was tried at a court martial on a US airbase, despite his crime taking place while he was off duty. Even though the crime had occurred within its territory, Cambridgeshire police had handed over responsibility for investigating Wulfson to the US military which then took control of the prosecution. Steele’s case has put the spotlight on an obscure agreement which gives UK police primary responsibility for investigating crimes that occur outside US bases while military personnel are off duty. However, it appears that the US seeks to maximise its jurisdiction, with British forces permitting the US military to investigate and prosecute such offences. …