Misconduct inquiry over fatal schoolgirl crash

Misconduct inquiry over fatal schoolgirl crash

Three years after a tragic incident in Wimbledon claimed the lives of two young girls, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has launched an inquiry into the conduct of eleven Metropolitan Police officers. The probe focuses on how the initial investigation was handled, with four current officers and one former detective constable under scrutiny for potential gross misconduct.

The crash occurred in July 2023 when a Land Rover driven by Claire Freemantle struck a group of children during an end-of-term tea party on the grounds of The Study Preparatory School. Nuria Sajjad and Selena Lau, both eight years old, died as a result. Freemantle was not formally charged after the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) cited an undiagnosed epileptic seizure as the cause. However, the families have consistently argued that the original investigation was insufficient.

“We are encouraged that the IOPC has taken up this case,” stated the families in a shared statement. “We have always pursued the truth and will continue to demand full transparency about the events of that day and the police’s subsequent actions.” They emphasized, “The truth must finally be revealed.”

The IOPC’s investigation, initiated in August 2025, will assess whether Met officers provided misleading information to those affected and if their treatment of victims was influenced by racial bias. It will also evaluate the investigation’s management, direction, and the team’s engagement with the families.

Commander Charmain Brenyah, head of the Met’s Roads and Transport Policing Command, addressed the families: “Our thoughts are with Nuria and Selena’s loved ones, as well as all impacted by this tragedy. We recognize that the extended process has deepened their sorrow and will support the IOPC fully as they work.” The Met had previously reopened its investigation in October 2024 following an internal review that uncovered new lines of inquiry.

Claire Freemantle was re-arrested in January 2025 on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving. She was interviewed again in July 2025, though her earlier statement in 2024 had expressed “deepest sorrow” while claiming no memory of the incident. The CPS confirmed it received a complete evidence file on March 17, 2025, and has sought additional legal guidance, but further decisions remain pending.

Speaking from their Wimbledon home, surrounded by images of their daughter, Nuria’s parents voiced their frustration. “We hope the IOPC will explain how the Met failed us,” said Smera Chohan, who is now undergoing her fifth leg surgery following injuries sustained in the same crash. “I want to know why this terrible event wasn’t investigated thoroughly. I need the law’s keepers to account for the way we were treated.” Chohan criticized the system’s lack of fairness, stating, “It’s been left hanging for three years and that isn’t acceptable.”

Nuria’s father, Sajjad Butt, echoed these concerns: “The CPS has kept us in the dark. As an organization meant to serve victims, it seems reluctant to engage with us. We know from before that we were treated unfairly, and now we fear it may happen again. The system is broken—it was supposed to protect us, yet we feel abandoned.” Prosecutors reached out to the family shortly after the BBC requested a response.