r/pics doesn't let me post this there because I haven't been active and deleted my post automatically (understandable under their rule, although I disagree with their rule). So, in the spirit of this post, here's a picture of the taxi carrying #TeoPeter (pictured right), bass player and vocalist of #Compact, one of the more popular rock bands in #Romania, after being hit by the #FordExpedition driven by #USMarine #ChristopherVanGoethem, at that time detached at the #USEmbassyInBucharest.
The incident happened in the early morning of December 4, 2004, at the intersection between the Polonă Street and Dacia Boulevard in downtown #Bucharest. Van Goethem hit the taxi while speeding on a red light, and the police later found he was under the influence of alcohool (basically he was #drunkdriving ). Van Goethem was in the car with his mistress, although he was married at that time. As per procedure, the US Marine was taken by the police at the National Institute of Forensic Medicine to collect biological samples. At the location, Van Goethem opposed, arguing that they weren't using the medical equipment provided by the US Embassy. Later, he was escorted outside by a #US security officer, and taken to an #American military base. From there, he fled to #Germany before any charges were filled by the #Romanian authorities. They did request the lift of the diplomatic immunity of Van Goethem, but the American authorities refused the request. He faced a trial back in the US instead, where after 2 years, the #MartialCourt of #Virginia dropped the #manslaughter and #adultery charges (even though he admitted drinking in the same night of the accident). However, the soldier was found guilty of making false official statements to investigators and obstructing justice, but received only a letter of reprimand.
At that time, the Romanian society was really pissed about the incident. Călin Popescu-Tăriceanu, the Romanian prime minister at the time, declared that the court verdict in the #USA was "surprising and quite bizarre at least". Yet, the Romanian authorities had nothing else to do than to respect the #ViennaConvention regarding diplomatic relations, and also went forward with keeping the relation with the US at a normal level. The link between #Romania and #America remains to this day (as I'm writing this) a strong one, even one of the strongest remaining links the US has with a European country (given the state of things).
So yes, this is another instance of a European country (mine, respectively), #EUMember and #NATOAlly #Romania, doing absolutely nothing for the US (well, nothing against it either FWIW).
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