NEW DELHI: UK’s Crown Prosecution Service has decided not to press charges against a woman who was driving a vehicle that caused the death of an Indian-origin schoolgirl Nuria Sajjad.
The woman identified as Claire Freemantle vehicle crashed into a school in Wimbledon, south-west London, last July, resulting in the death of two eight-year-old students, including Nuria Sajjad, when the driver experienced an unexpected epileptic seizure, resulting in her losing control of the Land Rover she was riding.
Claire who was in her mid-40s, willingly gave up her driving license, following her diagnosis, and will be required to remain seizure-free for a year before she can apply for her license again.
According to the Chief Crown Prosecutor, Jaswant Narwal, overseeing the CPS London Homicide Unit, described the incident as an “unthinkable tragedy,” Narwal determined that proceeding with a criminal investigation would not serve the public interest.
“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,” Narwal said.
“There is no evidence the driver had ever suffered a similar seizure before and she had no previously diagnosed medical condition. Because there is nothing to suggest the driver could have done anything to predict or prevent this tragedy, it is not in the public interest to pursue a criminal prosecution,” she added.
After reviewing the driver’s complete medical history, which was acquired by law enforcement, and considering the testimony of neurological experts, the CPS concluded that the driver had suffered a seizure and the specialists concurred that this was the first time the driver had experienced such a medical event.
“The death of a child is an unthinkable tragedy for any parent…Throughout this process we have met with the bereaved families on several occasions, to ensure they are kept informed of the case progress and to fully explain the decision we have made. Our thoughts remain with them today, as well as with the other injured victims and the wider school community upon whom this tragic incident has had a profound impact,” she said.
In response to the CPS statement this week, the families of both girls expressed their disappointment, stating that “justice has neither been done, nor has been seen to be done today”.
“All the victims of the events of 6 July 2023 did nothing wrong. We were all in the safest place we could have been outside our own homes. We were celebrating a day filled with joy. Nuria and Selena’s lives were taken in a moment. Some of us will never experience joy again,” they added.
In April, Nuria’s parents, Smera Chohan and Sajjad Butt, had sought answers regarding the prolonged delays in the investigation into the incident, which had led to Freemantle’s arrest on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and subsequent release on bail.
Chohan herself suffered serious injuries in the accident while posing for a picture with her daughter just before the vehicle crashed into the school.
(With inputs from agencies)
The woman identified as Claire Freemantle vehicle crashed into a school in Wimbledon, south-west London, last July, resulting in the death of two eight-year-old students, including Nuria Sajjad, when the driver experienced an unexpected epileptic seizure, resulting in her losing control of the Land Rover she was riding.
Claire who was in her mid-40s, willingly gave up her driving license, following her diagnosis, and will be required to remain seizure-free for a year before she can apply for her license again.
According to the Chief Crown Prosecutor, Jaswant Narwal, overseeing the CPS London Homicide Unit, described the incident as an “unthinkable tragedy,” Narwal determined that proceeding with a criminal investigation would not serve the public interest.
“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,” Narwal said.
“There is no evidence the driver had ever suffered a similar seizure before and she had no previously diagnosed medical condition. Because there is nothing to suggest the driver could have done anything to predict or prevent this tragedy, it is not in the public interest to pursue a criminal prosecution,” she added.
After reviewing the driver’s complete medical history, which was acquired by law enforcement, and considering the testimony of neurological experts, the CPS concluded that the driver had suffered a seizure and the specialists concurred that this was the first time the driver had experienced such a medical event.
“The death of a child is an unthinkable tragedy for any parent…Throughout this process we have met with the bereaved families on several occasions, to ensure they are kept informed of the case progress and to fully explain the decision we have made. Our thoughts remain with them today, as well as with the other injured victims and the wider school community upon whom this tragic incident has had a profound impact,” she said.
In response to the CPS statement this week, the families of both girls expressed their disappointment, stating that “justice has neither been done, nor has been seen to be done today”.
“All the victims of the events of 6 July 2023 did nothing wrong. We were all in the safest place we could have been outside our own homes. We were celebrating a day filled with joy. Nuria and Selena’s lives were taken in a moment. Some of us will never experience joy again,” they added.
In April, Nuria’s parents, Smera Chohan and Sajjad Butt, had sought answers regarding the prolonged delays in the investigation into the incident, which had led to Freemantle’s arrest on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and subsequent release on bail.
Chohan herself suffered serious injuries in the accident while posing for a picture with her daughter just before the vehicle crashed into the school.
(With inputs from agencies)