UK Metropolitan Police have reopened the investigation into a tragic car crash at The Study Prep School in Wimbledon, which claimed the lives of two eight-year-old girls, Nuria Sajjad and Selena Lau. The accident occurred on 6 July last year during an end-of-term tea party when a Land Rover plowed through a fence and crashed into a school building.
Initial Investigation and Concerns Raised by Families
The driver of the vehicle, Claire Freemantle, suffered an epileptic seizure at the time of the crash, and it was initially determined that she would not face criminal charges. However, the families of the two girls expressed doubts about the thoroughness of the investigation. In light of their concerns, the Metropolitan Police launched a review, which has now led to the case being reopened.
New Lines of Enquiry
In a statement, the police confirmed that new avenues of investigation had been identified, warranting further examination. “The review has uncovered a number of lines of enquiry that require deeper investigation, and as such, the case will be reopened,” the Met said. They added that the affected families had been informed of this development and that police would continue providing updates as the investigation progressed.
The statement continued, “We understand this has been, and continues to be, an extremely difficult time for the families. We hope this additional investigative work will address the concerns they have raised.”
Investigation Led by Homicide Experts
The reopened investigation will be led by a senior investigating officer with experience in homicide cases.
Driver Expresses Regret
In a statement issued in June, Freemantle expressed her “deepest sorrow” over the tragic incident, explaining that she had no memory of the crash after losing consciousness due to the seizure.
Families Seek Justice
Despite Freemantle’s account, the families of Nuria and Selena remained dissatisfied with the decision not to press charges. They stated, “We remain unconvinced that the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) considered all the facts. Justice has neither been done nor seen to be done today.”
Welcoming the news of the reopened investigation, Selena’s mother, Jessie Deng, told the Daily Mail, “I sincerely hope that this ongoing nightmare for all the families and Selena’s classmates can finally come to an end.”
Nuria’s father, Saj Butt, also spoke out, saying, “No parent should ever have to endure the pain my wife, Smera, and I have gone through these past 15 months.” He added, “While nothing can bring Nuria back, we hope that this new investigation will reveal what truly happened on 6 July 2023 and help us, along with the hundreds of others affected, to begin the healing process.”
