Misconduct inquiry over fatal schoolgirl crash
Misconduct Inquiry Over Fatal Schoolgirl Crash
The police watchdog has initiated an inquiry into the handling of the initial investigation surrounding a 2023 crash in Wimbledon that killed two schoolgirls. Eleven Metropolitan Police officers are under scrutiny for potential gross misconduct, with the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) revealing that four current officers and one former detective constable are being examined.
Tragic Incident and Initial Response
In July 2023, a Land Rover driven by Claire Freemantle struck a tea party at The Study Preparatory School, resulting in the deaths of eight-year-old Nuria Sajjad and Selena Lau. Freemantle was not charged, as the Crown Prosecution Service cited an undiagnosed epileptic seizure. However, the families of the victims have consistently argued that the investigation was inadequate.
“We have always sought the truth, and will continue to champion the pursuit of complete clarity on the events of that devastating day and subsequent actions taken by the Metropolitan Police,” said the families in a statement. “The truth must come to light.”
IOPC’s Scope of Inquiry
The IOPC launched its investigation in August 2025, focusing on allegations that Met officers provided misleading information to those affected. It will also assess whether racial factors influenced the treatment of victims. The inquiry will evaluate the investigation’s management, the conduct of the team, and their engagement with the families.
Among the officers under investigation are a commander, detective chief inspector, detective sergeant, and detective constable. Two additional detective constables are also being scrutinized at misconduct level. Cdr Charmain Brenyah, leading the Met’s Roads and Transport Policing Command, expressed solidarity with the families. “Our thoughts remain with Nuria and Selena’s families, as well as everyone impacted by this tragedy,” she said. “It is right that our initial handling of this incident be independently scrutinised, and we will provide every assistance to the IOPC as their investigation continues.”
Reopened Investigation and Ongoing Concerns
The Met announced in October 2024 that it was restarting its probe after an internal review highlighted new leads. Freemantle was re-arrested in January 2025 on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and was interviewed again in July 2025. In 2024, she stated her “deepest sorrow” but claimed to have “no recollection of what took place.”
The Crown Prosecution Service confirmed it received a full file of evidence from the Met on March 17 and obtained further legal advice recently. However, decisions on charges still require additional factors to be considered. Nuria’s parents, who are now facing their fifth surgery after injuries from the crash, emphasized their frustration. “I hope the IOPC will cover that,” Nuria’s mother, Smera Chohan, said. “I really want to understand why I have been treated so cruelly, unfairly, and in an inhumane way. I would like the keepers of law, of the system, to come and tell me.”
“We are deeply concerned—the CPS has left us in the dark,” said Nuria’s father, Sajjad Butt. “As the organisation that is supposed to move towards justice for victims, it seems rather unwilling to engage with victims. The last time we were treated unfairly, we know that now, and we’re concerned that that’s going to happen again. The system is broken—the system is supposed to protect victims and we are not protected. We have been left out in the cold.”
The families remain hopeful that the IOPC’s inquiry will deliver the answers they believe have been long delayed. “It’s been left hanging for three years and that isn’t right,” Chohan added, voicing her desire for a “competent and thorough investigation.” The process, they argue, has only intensified their grief and sense of injustice.
