A driver who smashed through a school fence in a Land Rover Defender leaving two schoolgirls girls dead is facing a fresh investigation.
Nuria Sajjad and Selena Lau – both eight years old – were at an end-of-year tea party when the car crashed into them at The Study prep school in Wimbledon in July last year.
Driver, Claire Freemantle, 47, wasn’t charged with any offence after reportedly suffering an epileptic seizure behind the wheel.
A review has exposed shortfalls in the way detectives carried out the initial investigation into the crash, prompting London’s Metropolitan Police to reopen the case, according to MailOnline.
Issues include the diagnosis of epilepsy and failure to interview witnesses about the driver’s behaviour in the immediate aftermath of the crash.
Saj Butt, Nuria’s father, told the same publication no parent should ever have to go through the pain he and his wife, Smera, have endured.
He claimed the initial investigation “seemed flawed” and left questions unanswered, adding: “While we know nothing will bring Nuria back, we hope this new investigation will finally uncover what really happened on July 6, 2023, and at last allow us, and the hundreds of others affected by what happened, to begin some sort of healing process.”
Selena’s mother, Jessie Deng, also welcomed the new investigation, saying all the family ever wanted was a “thorough and open investigation” for Selena, Nuria and other families whose lives “were turned upside down”.
Ms Deng added: “Before the 6th of July 2023, I had always believed the police would be there, for anyone, at their time of need.”
She said that instead, since that day, those affected have been left in a strange kind of limbo, not knowing why the tragedy occurred.
The grieving mother said: “I sincerely hope this ongoing nightmare for all of the families and Selena’s schoolmates can come to an end soon.” Nine children and three adults were also seriously injured in the crash.
A spokesman for the Metropolitan Police 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.”