Woman who crashed Land Rover into a school party killing two young girls to face trial next year

By REBECCA CAMBER, CRIME AND SECURITY EDITOR Published: 11:06, 14 July 2026 | Updated: 11:11, 14 July 2026 A driver who crashed into a prep school killing two girls will face trial next year. Nuria Sajjad and Selena Lau, both eight, were killed when a Land Rover Defender veered off the road smashing through a fence into the Study Prep School in Wimbledon as children and staff were at an end-of-year tea party in July 2023. Nine children and three adults were also seriously injured. Claire Freemantle appeared at the Old Bailey today to face charges of death by dangerous driving three years on from the tragedy. The 49-year-old has been charged with nine offences in connection with a fatal collision on July 6, 2023. Today, she was not asked to enter pleas to the charges, but her lawyers have previously indicated that she will plead not guilty. Prosecutors initially decided not to bring any criminal charges in June 2024 after Ms Freemantle said she had suffered an epileptic seizure at the wheel for the first time. But in May the CPS charged her with two offences of causing death by dangerous driving and seven charges of causing serious injury by dangerous driving. Claire Freemantle, whose Land Rover Defender crashed into a Wimbledon prep school, killing two eight-year-old girls, will face trial next year Smera Chohan, right, and Sajjad Butt, left, parents of Nuria Sajjad who was killed in the crash, arriving at the Old Bailey Franky Lau, left, and Jessie Deng, right, are the parents of Selena Lau, who also lost her life Schoolgirls Nuria Sajjad (left) and Selena Lau (right) both died aged eight in the the crash at The Study Prep Relatives of the victims were in the Old Bailey for the preliminary hearing. During a short hearing, a six-week trial was set for September 6 next year. Judge Mark Lucraft KC released Freemantle on unconditional bail until the next hearing on November 23.  The Met announced in October 2024 that it was reopening its investigation into the crash following the internal review that identified a number of missed lines of inquiry. In a previous statement in 2024, the driver expressed her 'deepest sorrow' but said she had 'no recollection of what took place'. She said: 'Since I became aware of the terrible event that took place on 6 July, 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.' The Independent Office for Police Conduct is currently investigating four serving officers and one former detective constable for possible gross misconduct over the earlier investigation. The review of the original investigation highlighted missed opportunities by the Road Traffic Collisions Unit who failed to interview key witnesses at the scene, including the head teacher of the school who comforted Nuria as she lay injured. The watchdog is examining allegations that Met officers provided 'false and misleading information to those affected and whether the officers' treatment of those affected was influenced by their race'. Commander Charmain Brenyah, who leads the Met's Roads and Transport Policing Command, earlier said: 'We have updated the families of this development and our thoughts and sympathies remain with them. 'These charges follow a complex and rigorous reinvestigation by detectives. 'There is an ongoing investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) into the first investigation which we continue to fully support. 'While it is right that this matter be independently scrutinised, we are sorry for how we initially dealt with the incident and for the impact on those affected. 'We must now let both criminal proceedings and the independent investigation run their course. 'However, following a review of the Roads and Transport Policing Command we will be fundamentally resetting how the Met investigates fatal and serious collisions. This will ensure our responses to incidents of this nature are more effective, providing better support and outcomes for victims and their families.' Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.