Claire Freemantle, 46, has been charged with causing death by dangerous driving after a car crashed into The Study Prep school in Wimbledon in July 2023, killing two eight-year-old girls, Nuria Sajjad and Selena Lau. She faces two counts of causing death by dangerous driving and seven counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving.
Freemantle's lawyers have indicated she will plead not guilty when she appears at Westminster Magistrates' Court on 16 June. The charges come after the Crown Prosecution Service initially decided in June 2024 not to charge her, citing an epileptic seizure. However, the decision was reversed following a review by the Metropolitan Police's specialist crime review group.
The families of the victims welcomed the charges, stating they were 'right to challenge' the initial decision. They said: 'From the very beginning, we have demanded one thing: the truth about why our daughters were killed.' The Met Police apologised for its handling of the case and said it would 'fundamentally reset' how it investigates fatal collisions.
Freemantle's lawyers expressed that she is 'utterly devastated' and has 'no recollection' of the incident. They questioned the reversal of the original decision, saying there are 'serious questions to be answered.' The Independent Office for Police Conduct is investigating allegations of racism and gross misconduct by four serving officers involved in the case.
