Claire Freemantle, 49, was charged in May after the car she was driving was involved in a collision that left schoolgirls Nuria Sajjad and Selena Lau dead and other pupils injured
The driver of a 4×4 that crashed into a primary school and killed two eight-year-old girls has appeared in court
The driver of a 4×4 that crashed into a primary school and killed two eight-year-old girls has been pictured for the first time as she arrived in court.
Claire Freemantle, 49, is accused of two counts of causing death by dangerous driving and seven counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving following the fatal incident in July 2023.
Schoolgirls Nuria Sajjad and Selena Lau died and several others were injured after Freemantle’s Land Rover Defender smashed through the railings at The Study Prep school in Wimbledon, South West London, while pupils held an end of term outdoor tea party.
Freemantle today appeared at Westminster magistrates court, where she spoke only to give her name, date of birth and address. She was not asked to enter pleas.
Freemantle entered court looking tearful wearing a black trouser suit. She was allowed to sit behind her barrister in the courtroom instead of watching on from the dock after her barrister Sallie Bennett-Jenkins KC raised concerns that the stress of being in the dock could trigger an epileptic attack.
Ms Bennett-Jenkins KC told the judge Freemantle had suffered a recent seizure in the past three weeks.
Freemantle was released on unconditional bail.
Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring told Freemantle: “All nine charges must be sent to the Crown Court. You will have to appear at the Central Criminal Court on the 14th July this year. If you don’t, a warrant will be issued for your arrest.”
The Met has since apologised for the way it initially dealt with the incident and the “impact on those affected”, adding it will be “fundamentally resetting how [the force] investigates fatal and serious collisions”.
