The families of Nuria Sajjad and Selena Lau, the two eight-year-old girls who tragically lost their lives when a car crashed into a school party, have expressed their profound disappointment following the Crown Prosecution Service's (CPS) decision not to press criminal charges against the motorist involved.
On July 6th of last year, Claire Freemantle, while driving her Land Rover, suffered an epileptic seizure that caused her to lose control of the vehicle. The car ploughed through a fence and into an end-of-term celebration at The Study Prep School in Wimbledon, south-west London. The devastating incident resulted in the deaths of Nuria Sajjad and Selena Lau and left more than a dozen others injured. Fortunately, all the injured have since been discharged from the hospital.
Freemantle, who was arrested at the scene on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving, was later found to have had an epileptic seizure at the time of the crash. The CPS has since revealed that she will not face further charges, citing the seizure as the cause and noting that there was no evidence of a prior medical condition.
Families’ Reactions
Trevor Sterling, the lawyer representing the families, voiced their disappointment, emphasizing the need for justice to be both done and seen to be done. "This is disappointing; justice must not only be done, but seen to be done. In the absence of a process, how do we interrogate the evidence? What does this message send to the public that deaths can arise in a road traffic situation, and there could be no sanction because there is no process to interrogate the evidence?"
Sterling stressed that the focus will now shift to the inquest, where a thorough review of the evidence will be conducted, possibly by a jury.
Claire Freemantle’s Statement
Claire Freemantle expressed her deepest sorrow and said she has no recollection of the events that transpired due to the seizure. "Since I became aware of the terrible event that took place on July 6, the devastating consequences for all those affected have not left my thoughts and will be with me for the rest of my life. I have since been diagnosed as having suffered an epileptic seizure with loss of consciousness. This was not a pre-existing condition. As a result of losing consciousness, I have no recollection of what took place."
Freemantle conveyed her heartfelt sympathy to the families of Nuria and Selena. "My heartfelt sympathy goes out to all of the children and families affected, and especially to the parents of Nuria Sajjad and Selena Lau."
CPS and Police Statements
Jaswant Narwal, Chief Crown Prosecutor with oversight of the CPS London Homicide Unit, extended sincere condolences to the bereaved families. "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."
Narwal explained that pursuing a criminal prosecution was not in the public interest as there was nothing to suggest that Freemantle could have predicted or prevented the tragedy. The decision was made after reviewing her full medical records and evidence from neurological specialists.
Detective Chief Superintendent Clair Kelland, responsible for policing in south-west London, acknowledged the widespread shock and sadness caused by the incident. "The families of Nuria and Selena - who we know are greatly loved and missed - are always in our thoughts, but particularly so in light of this development."
Kelland emphasized that significant inquiries established that Freemantle suffered a previously undiagnosed seizure, leading to the crash. "The consequences of this were, as we know, absolutely devastating and the hurt and pain that followed will always be deeply felt."
The tragic event has had a profound impact on the school community and the wider local area. Detective Chief Superintendent Kelland assured that officers worked tirelessly to ensure a thorough investigation was conducted and supported the affected families throughout the process.
The inquest will now serve as the next avenue for examining the evidence and circumstances surrounding the incident, providing an opportunity for a comprehensive review and potentially bringing further clarity to the bereaved families and the community.
English (United States) ·