Police reopen Wimbledon school crash investigation
The Metropolitan Police is to carry out a new investigation into the Wimbledon school crash in order to âfurtherâ examine a ânumber of lines of enquiryâ.
Two children died and 12 were injured when a Land Rover drove into the playground of the Study Prep school last summer.
After the first investigation, the driver, Claire Freemantle, was told no further action would take place.
The families of the two girls who died, Selena Lau and Nuria Sajjad, were critical of the first police investigation and the lack of road collision investigators.
Following the first investigation, families were told by the CPS that the driver would not be charged as she had suffered an epileptic seizure.
Ms Freemantle publicly expressed her âdeepest sorrowâ and said she had âno recollection of what took placeâ.
The girlsâ families said they remained âunconvincedâ that the investigation had been conducted thoroughly.
Four months later, senior Met officers have now decided â following an internal review â to open a new investigation into the crash.
In a statement the force said: âThe review has identified a number of lines of enquiry that require further examination and, as such, the investigation will now be re-opened.
âThe families have been updated with this development and we will continue to meet with them to provide updates on the investigation as it progresses.
âWe know this has been and remains a really difficult time for them.
âWe believe this further investigative work will address all questions raised by the families affected.
âThis further investigation will be undertaken by an accredited senior investigating officer and team with experience in homicide investigations.â
The families of the children who died have welcomed the new investigation.
âOngoing nightmareâ
Franky Lau, Selenaâs father, told BBC London: âAll 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.
âBefore the 6th of July 2023 I had always believed the police would be there, for anyone, at their time of need.
âInstead, since that day, we have been left in a strange kind of limbo not knowing why this tragedy occurred.â
Mr Lau added: âThis new investigation is welcome and I sincerely hope that this ongoing nightmare for all of the families and Selenaâs schoolmates can come to an end soon.â
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