Met police to reopen investigation into Wimbledon school crash

The Metropolitan Police have announced that they will reopen their investigation into the tragic incident that claimed the lives of two schoolchildren last year. Emily Dugan reports that this decision comes as new lines of inquiry have emerged regarding the Wimbledon school crash that occurred last July when a Land Rover veered off the road and struck the Study Prep School.

In that devastating event, two eight-year-old girls, Nuria Sajjad and Selena Lau, lost their lives, and another child sustained injuries after the vehicle crashed through the school’s fence during an end-of-year picnic. Initially, the investigation concluded without charges being filed against the driver, Claire Freemantle, who was determined to have suffered an epileptic seizure at the time of the crash.

Following the announcement from the Crown Prosecution Service, Freemantle expressed her “deepest sorrow” for the tragic loss, stating that she had “no recollection of what took place.” However, the families of the affected children have voiced their frustrations over the initial police investigation.

Nuria’s parents, Sajjad Butt and Smera Chohan, along with Selena’s parents, Franky Lau and Jessie Deng, voiced their concerns in a joint statement earlier this year, declaring they were “unconvinced” that the Metropolitan Police conducted a thorough investigation. A review into the police’s handling of the case reportedly uncovered significant oversights, including missed opportunities to interview witnesses regarding the driver’s behavior immediately following the incident. The medical evidence will also undergo re-examination.

A police spokesperson acknowledged the decision to reopen the investigation, stating, “The review has identified a number of lines of inquiry that require further examination, and, as such, the investigation will now be reopened. The families have been updated on this development, and we will continue to meet with them to provide updates as the investigation progresses. We understand this is an incredibly difficult time for them, and we believe this further investigative work will address all questions they’ve raised.”

Nuria’s father shared his heartbreak with the Mail, saying, “No parent should ever have to go through the pain my wife, Smera, and I have experienced over the past 15 months. The initial investigation seemed flawed and left so many unanswered questions. Now, as we put our lives on hold again, we can only welcome this news about a new investigation with a specialist and more experienced team. While nothing can bring Nuria back, we hope this new inquiry will finally shed light on what truly happened on July 6, 2023, allowing us and the many others affected by this tragedy to start a healing process.”

A decision regarding further developments was not anticipated until October 30, when the families are scheduled to meet with the police to discuss the review. It’s expected that the Metropolitan Police will provide more insights into their reasoning for reopening the investigation at that time.

Trevor Sterling, the lawyer representing the families, commented, “I welcome this decision because it’s about more than just justice; it’s about ensuring justice is seen to be done. It’s evident that the earlier processes were not handled properly. We just want everything to be conducted thoroughly and for an appropriate decision to follow.”