See more Daily Mail on Google - save us as a Preferred SourceBy MARK DUELL, DEPUTY CHIEF REPORTER (DIGITAL) Published: 11:16 BST, 16 June 2026 | Updated: 12:58 BST, 16 June 2026 52 shares
The driver of a 4×4 accused of killing two eight-year-old girls at a primary school's end-of-term tea party appeared in court for the first time today.Claire-Louise Freemantle was charged with two counts of causing death by dangerous driving and seven counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving.Schoolgirls Nuria Sajjad and Selena Lau died after a Land Rover driven by 49-year-old Freemantle smashed through a fence in Wimbledon, south-west London.Pupils and their families were in the grounds of The Study Preparatory School celebrating the end of the summer term at the time of the crash on July 6, 2023.Nearly three years later, Freemantle appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court today where she spoke to confirm her identity and was not asked to enter any pleas.Sallie Bennett-Jenkins KC, defending, asked for Freemantle to be allowed to sit in the well of the court, rather than in the dock, because of health concerns.Ms Bennett-Jenkins told the court: 'Mrs Freemantle has a diagnosed medical condition of epilepsy and there is some concern she may suffer further seizures.'The request was not opposed by prosecutor Catherine Patterson.Claire-Louise Freemantle is pictures outside Westminster Magistrates' Court this morningFreemantle (second right) arrives at Westminster Magistrates' Court with her team today Freemantle (centre) hugs a man outside Westminster Magistrates' Court this morningSchoolgirls Nuria Sajjad (left) and Selena Lau (right) died in the incident at The Study Prep A court artist's sketch of Claire-Louise Freemantle at Westminster Magistrates' Court today Nuria Sajjad's parents Sajjad Butt and Smera Chohan at Westminster Magistrates' Court today Franky and Jessie Lau, parents of Selena Lau, outside Westminster Magistrates' Court today The incident happened in 2023 as the school was celebrating the last day of the summer termMs Bennett-Jenkins opposed any conditions on Freemantle's bail, telling the court: 'She has cooperated fully with the police investigation.'Freemantle is accused of killing Nuria and Selena, as well as causing serious injury in the crash to Nuria's mother Smera Chohan and another mother named Tamsyn Van De Vyver.A third mother and her seven-month-old baby were also injured, as well as two eight-year-old girls and a seven-year-old girl.Sending Freemantle's case to the Old Bailey, District Judge Paul Goldspring said: 'All nine charges must be sent to the crown court. You will appear at the Central Criminal Court on July 14 this year.'Around 30 people gathered silently in the public gallery - including parents of injured children.Freemantle, who was wearing a dark-coloured trouser suit, was released on unconditional bail until the next hearing.Criminal charges were announced in May, after the girls' families criticised the Metropolitan Police for its investigation into the crash.In June 2024, Scotland Yard said the driver of the vehicle had suffered an epileptic seizure and would face no criminal charges.But that decision was reversed, and the Met apologised for the way it initially dealt with the incident and the 'impact on those affected', adding it would be 'fundamentally resetting how the Met investigates fatal and serious collisions'.After the charges were announced, Freemantle's lawyers previously said she would plead not guilty to the charges.The Independent Office for Police Conduct has been investigating officers for alleged racism in their handling of the case.The watchdog previously said it was probing allegations that officers provided 'false and misleading information' to the families following complaints about the standard of the investigation, with four serving officers, including a commander and a detective chief inspector, being investigated for gross misconduct.
