A 49-year-old woman who drove a car into a London school, killing two eight-year-old girls, including Indian-born Nuria Sajjad, was charged with dangerous driving after a reinvestigation into the case on Friday.
In July 2023, Claire Freemantle was involved in a car accident at Wimbledon Preparatory School, which resulted in the deaths of Indian-origin schoolgirl Nuria and her classmate Serena Lau, both aged 8 at the time.
A preliminary investigation into the accident has concluded that no charges have been laid in relation to the freak accident.
David Malone, deputy chief prosecutor for the North District of London, said: “The Crown Prosecution Service has decided to prosecute 49-year-old Claire Freemantle on two counts of dangerous driving occasioning death and seven counts of dangerous driving occasioning grievous harm.”
He said: “This charging decision follows the re-opening of the Met Police’s investigation into the collision, which resulted in significant new evidence being passed to us for consideration. “Following this review, our prosecutors have worked hard to establish that there is now sufficient evidence to bring the case to court and that it is in the public interest to bring criminal proceedings.”
The Crown Prosecution Service said Fremantle was informed of the charges by post and will appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court in London on June 16.
“These charges follow a complex and rigorous re-investigation by detectives. The first investigation is being investigated by the Independent Office for Police Conduct and we will continue to fully support that investigation,” said Commander Charmain Brenyah, who leads the Metropolitan Police’s Roads and Traffic Policing Command.
“While it is right that this matter is subject to an independent review, we are sorry for the way we initially handled this incident and the impact it had on those affected.
“However, following a review of the Roads and Transport Policing Command, we will fundamentally restructure the way the Met investigates fatal and serious collisions. This will ensure our response to incidents of this nature is more effective, providing better support and outcomes for victims and their families,” she said.
Nuria’s mother Smera Chohan was also injured in the accident, and her father Sajjad Butt is among those seeking answers amid long delays in the investigation into the incident. Pupils and their families were celebrating the end of term in the school playground when a car suddenly crashed into the party.
The Metropolitan Police’s Specialist Crime Review Team reviewed the police’s initial investigation and identified further lines of inquiry, and Specialist Crime Command launched a second investigation in October 2024.
The team re-investigating the collision discovered a number of issues related to the first investigation, which led to the IOPC investigating complaints against 11 officers.
“We understand that this incident has had a profound impact on the wider community. However, we remind all interested parties that proceedings against the defendant have now commenced and that she is entitled to a fair trial. It is vital that there is no reporting, comment or sharing of information online that could prejudice these proceedings,” the CPS warned. PT AK ZH
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