Met Police reopens investigation into Wimbledon school crash that killed two girls

The Metropolitan Police has reopened its investigation into the Wimbledon school crash that killed two eight-year-old girls.

Nuria Sajjad and Selena Lau, both 8, died and several more were injured after the car crash at the Study Prep school in Wimbledon, south-west London, on 6 July last year.

Following the initial police investigation, it was announced that the driver of the 4x4, Claire Freemantle, had suffered an epileptic seizure behind the wheel and would not face criminal charges.

However, the families of the two children who died were critical of the investigation and said they remained “unconvinced” it was conducted thoroughly.

The Met said it launched a review of the investigation in summer after the families raised their concerns.

The former headteacher of the school, Helen Lowe, who held the role at the time of the crash, also said she feels “let down” by the police investigation.

As a result of the review, the force has now announced that it will reopen its investigation to further examine “a number of lines of enquiry” and provide answers to the families’ questions.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the Met said: “The review has identified a number of lines of enquiry that require further examination and, as such, the investigation will now be re-opened.

“The families have been updated with this development and we will continue to meet with them to provide updates on the investigation as it progresses. We know this has been and remains a really difficult time for them. We believe this further investigative work will address all questions raised by the families affected.

“This further investigation will be undertaken by an accredited senior investigating officer and team with experience in homicide investigations.”

Ms Freemantle previously expressed her “deepest sorrow” over the tragedy and said she had “no recollection of what took place” after losing consciousness.

The force previously said officers worked “tirelessly through every detail of the incident” to ensure a complete investigation.

Ms Lowe told the BBC: “I think the words ‘thorough’ and ‘tireless’ suggest that you would have a body of evidence that you would be able to share… but in some areas there was just a complete lack of knowledge, of basic information.

“Maybe when they go away and look at the evidence, they will remember the answers. But there were a number of occasions where they weren’t sure if something had been done, or they couldn’t remember.

“At this moment in time, it would appear that I have been let down by them.”

The school had been celebrating the last day of the summer term when the 4×4 crashed through a fence and hit a building.

In a joint statement issued after it was announced that no further action would be taken against the driver, the girls’ families said: “We remain unconvinced that the investigation has been conducted thoroughly.

“We remain unconvinced that the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) have reached a decision based on all the facts. Justice has neither been done, nor has been seen to be done today.”

They added that Nuria and Selena “deserved better”.

In a statement issued in July announcing the review, the Met said: “Having listened to concerns from the families of both Nuria and Selena – and other parties affected – we are committed to addressing their questions, and the Specialist Crime Review Group (SCRG) will therefore be carrying out a review of the investigation.”

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