COPS have reopened their investigation into a Land Rover crash that killed two eight-year-old schoolgirls.
Nuria Sajjad and Selena Lau both died after the tragedy at The Study Prep School, in Wimbledon, South West London on July 6, 2023.
The horror unfolded as a Land Rover Defender smashed through a fence while school children and staff were having a tea-party outside on the last day of term.
More than fifteen others were injured in the crash, including a seven-month-old baby girl.
The initial investigation seemed flawed and left so many unanswered questions
Saj Butt
A major incident was declared as more than 30 police vehicles and 15 ambulances were sent to the scene.
Driver Claire Freemantle claimed she had an epileptic seizure behind the wheel.
The 47-year-old faced no charges at the time due to the medical episode.
But now Scotland Yard has reopened its probe after a review highlighted issues with how officers carried out the initial investigation.
It has been revealed there was a key problem with establishing the evidence of an epileptic seizure, and diagnosis without brain scans.
The review has also found there were critical short fallings by the Investigation team in the Road Traffic Collisions Unit.
Officers failed to interview witnesses of the crash straight after it happened.
Metropolitan Police is now urging anyone who may have seen the fatal smash to come forward and share their account.
A spokesperson for the force 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.
All we have ever wanted is a thorough and open investigation
Jessie Deng
“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.”
‘ONGOING NIGHTMARE’
Nuria’s devastated father Saj Butt, said yesterday: “No parent should ever have to go through the pain my wife, Smera, and I have experienced over the past 15 months.
“The initial investigation seemed flawed and left so many unanswered questions.
“Now, as we put our lives on-hold again, we can only welcome the news that a new investigation has been launched with a new, specialist and more experienced team.
“While we know nothing will bring Nuria back, we hope this new investigation will finally uncover what really happened on 6 July 2023, and at last allow us, and the hundreds of others affected by what happened, to begin some sort of healing process.”
Selena Lau’s heartbroken mother, Jessie Deng, added: “All we have ever wanted is a thorough and open investigation for Selena, Nuria and the other families whose lives were turned upside down one summer afternoon, whatever the outcome might be.
“Before the 6th of July 2023 I had always believed the police would be there, for anyone, at their time of need.
“Instead, since that day, we have been left in a strange kind of limbo not knowing why this tragedy occurred.
“This new investigation is welcome and I sincerely hope that this ongoing nightmare for all of the families and Selena’s schoolmates can come to an end soon.”
‘DESERVED BETTER’
Both Selena and Nuria’s parents previously slammed the decision to not bring charges in relation to the tragedy.
They said their daughters “deserved better”, after the Crown Prosecution Service said the motorist had an epileptic seizure at the wheel.
There is no evidence the driver had ever suffered a similar seizure before and she had no previously diagnosed medical condition, the CPS added.
The parents of the two girls killed said previously they “remain unconvinced that the investigation has been conducted thoroughly”, adding “Nuria and Selena deserved better”.
Jaswant Narwal, Chief Crown Prosecutor with oversight of the Crown Prosecution Service London Homicide Unit, said previously: “The death of a child is an unthinkable tragedy for any parent.
“On behalf of the Crown Prosecution Service, I extend my sincere and heartfelt condolences to both bereaved families who have suffered the devastating loss of their children, Nuria and Selena.
“We have carefully considered this complex and sensitive case, taking into consideration all the material gathered as part of the lengthy and detailed police investigation.
“The driver of the vehicle had an epileptic seizure behind the wheel, which caused her to lose control of the vehicle which then drove into the school.
“There is no evidence the driver had ever suffered a similar seizure before and she had no previously diagnosed medical condition.
“Because there is nothing to suggest the driver could have done anything to predict or prevent this tragedy, it is not in the public interest to pursue a criminal prosecution.”
Narwal added they had considered the driver’s full medical records and taken evidence from neurological specialists, who agreed that the driver had a seizure and that this was the first such medical episode she had experienced.
