A driver accused of killing two girls when she crashed into a Wimbledon primary school has made her first court appearance. Claire Freemantle, 49, faces two charges of causing death by dangerous driving and seven counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving after the incident at The Study Prep school in July 2023.
Schoolgirls Nuria Sajjad and Selena Lau, both eight years old, died as the school celebrated the last day of the summer term. At Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, Freemantle, of Edge Hill, Wimbledon, was permitted to sit beside her lawyer instead of in the dock. She wore a dark-coloured trouser suit and spoke only to confirm her identity; she was not asked to enter a plea.
Charges and Injuries
Freemantle is accused of killing Nuria and Selena and causing serious injury to Nuria’s mother, Smera Chohan, another mother, Tamsyn Van De Vyver, a third mother, and four children. The injured children include one infant and three girls aged seven and eight.
Criminal charges were announced in May after the girls’ families criticised the Metropolitan Police for its investigation. In June 2024, Scotland Yard initially said the driver had suffered an epileptic seizure and would face no charges. However, that decision was reversed, and the Met apologised for its initial handling, stating it would fundamentally reset how it investigates fatal and serious collisions.
Court Proceedings
Sallie Bennett-Jenkins KC, defending, requested Freemantle be allowed to sit in the well of the court due to health concerns. Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring sent the case to the Old Bailey for a hearing on July 14 and released Freemantle on unconditional bail. Freemantle’s lawyers have previously indicated she will plead not guilty.
