'We are not coping': Parents of Wimbledon school crash victim search for answers

Parents of Nuria Sajjad, 8, who was killed in the crash have questioned a delay in the case
Nuria with her parents Smera Chohan and Sajjad Butt
Family Handout
Miriam Burrell15 November 2023

The parents of an eight-year-old girl who died when a driver crashed through a fence at her Wimbledon school have said they are "not coping".

Four months on from Nuria Sajjad's death, her mother Smera Chohan still wonders if she could have saved her daughter's life.

The pair were taking photos at The Study Preparatory School on Nuria's last day of school for the year on July 6, when a Land Rover careered into the playground in southwest London.

Mrs Chohan told BBC London: "My mind goes blank. I didn't see anything come at me. Because if I had, I would have protected my girl.

"I would have. And I didn't. So I wake up every morning thinking 'Could I have picked her up and done something?' I didn't see the car come. I didn't save my girl."

She added: "We are not coping."

A woman, 46, from Wimbledon, was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving at the scene. She has been bailed until January.

A police investigation is continuing.

Selena Lau, 8, also died in the collision. Several others were injured, some seriously.

Nuria's father, Sajjad Butt, told the BBC that the couple are left with "a deep hole" and they struggle to "find any sense of purpose".

He added: "In a matter of seconds, we went from what should have been one of the happiest days of my daughter's life, to absolute horror.

"The two people most dear to me in the world, one was taken away and the other thinks it was their fault."

Nuria Sajjad
Met Police

The couple have questioned the delay in the case.

Mrs Chohan told the broadcaster: "She was our perfect girl and she was crushed to death. The buck has to stop with someone.

"For it to prolong and leave us with just questions and questions… whereas I feel two girls have just lost their lives.

"If that is not a priority, then what is?"

Mr Butt continued: "We understand due process, we understand that this needs to be done properly.

"I think from our perspective the challenge is that dozens of people witnessed what happened.

"I don’t think there is any doubt about what happened."

We want justice, we want accountability

Sajjad Butt, Nuria Sajjad's father

Paying tribute to her daughter, Ms Chohan said: "Her name means light. She was the light of our lives – will always be.

"She was all about being kind. She was the youngest amongst her cousins – she looked up to them, she called them brothers.

"I had always dreamt that when she walks down the aisle, her brothers would walk her down.

"Her brothers had to carry her coffin and lower her in the grave."

Mr Butt added: "Her kindness was her defining trait. Generosity and her zest and zeal for life – she was just full of joy.

"This isn’t fair. This isn’t just. This isn’t right.

"We want justice, we want accountability."

Inquests into the deaths of Nuria and Selena were opened and adjourned at Inner West London Coroner’s Court on July 12.

The Met told BBC London it recognised the "time taken can cause further distress but it is only right and fair to all involved that we carry out a thorough and extensive investigation".

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