https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13045957/wimbledon-school-crash-footage-selena-lau-death.htmlHeartbreaking footage shows Wimbledon crash victim Selena Lau, eight, playing the piano at an end-of-term tea party before Land Rover smashed into grounds of school killing her and another classmate
Selena's parents say they are desperate for answers and justice seven months on
By Danya Bazaraa
Published: 10:33, 5 February 2024 | Updated: 11:57, 5 February 2024
Heartbreaking footage shows eight-year-old Selena Lau beautifully playing the piano moments before she was killed when a 4x4 ploughed into an end of term party at her Wimbledon school. Selena, who was a pupil at The Study Prep, was performing at a concert before the £80,000 Land Rover crashed through the primary school's gates during an end of term picnic which followed last July. Shortly after she was given a warm round of applause and the concert finished, pupils and their families went outside for the picnic, where the car smashed through a fence. Selena and her friend Nuria Sajjad, also eight, were both killed in the incident while dozens of other children and parents were injured. Seven months on from the tragedy, a video of Selena playing Scott Joplin's ragtime classic The Entertainer has been released by the Times. It is the last video made of Selena before her death. Selena's parents Franky and Jessie Lau, both 45, treasure the clip of their daughter's faultless performance, but have spoken out about being desperate for answers and justice. They also revealed in a new, emotional interview with Talk TV that they suffer flashbacks and nightmares, saying they are 'suffering every day' and sharing their agonising frustration over the long-running police investigation. The couple broke down in tears as they spoke about their 'funny, cheeky daughter' and admitted they are haunted by guilt over not being with her when she died. A police update also confirms a 46-year-old woman from Wimbledon who was arrested at the scene on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving is currently released under investigation. Jessie wept as she recalled seeing her daughter's body. 'I first saw her lying on a bed near the reception area. So alone with a tube in her mouth, blood stains and bruises on her face. It comes flashing back every day, every night, and I wish that was me lying there not her, I wish I could swap with her, I'd give anything I have to have her back.'
Recounting the phone call from Selena's school receptionist, Selena's mother said: 'She was like, 'Just come, something really serious has happened at school. I thought it may be a broken arm, I didn't expect anything else. Her voice was shaking, and she was like, 'You have to come now.'
'I was thinking why don't you take her to the hospital, it takes me an hour to get there. It doesn't make sense to wait for me to go to the hospital. And then I start crying.'
Franky, who had been working from home, had already made his way to the school. He said: 'There was so much traffic at that point because the school was cordoned off. All the police were there I caused a bit of a scene outside and they took me inside to the hall. And I saw my mum and a friend, the parents there, and they just came to me and said Selena's gone.'
Video of Selena playing piano at a concert on the tragic day has also emerged. But shortly after she was given a warm round of applause and the concert finished, pupils and their families went outside for the picnic, where the car smashed through a fence. Selena's parents Franky and Jessie treasure the clip of their daughter's faultless performance, but have spoken out about being desperate for answers and justice. Jessie told the Times: 'It was the end of my world.'
Franky added: 'Each day it drags on, we are replaying what happened. We just want answers and justice. We are owed answers to what happened to our daughter.'
Selena's father Franky told Talk TV he will always regret not attending her final piano performance that fateful afternoon: 'We replay that day in our head every day. Was there anything we could have done to make that not happen? Should I have gone to see the performance? She would have been speaking to me for an extra few seconds, which would have made all the difference. If it rained, they wouldn't be having the picnic outside. All these different scenarios, every day.'
The pain and uncertainty is also taking a heavy toll on Selena's twelve-year-old sister. 'They were best buddies since the day Selena was born, doing piano, netball, dancing and singing classes together,' said Jessie.
'Now she's withdrawn from all those activities. That's not fun anymore. She's been sobbing at night because they used to listen to songs together before going to sleep and chat. She's been crying on her own.'
Police said a 46-year-old woman from Wimbledon who was arrested at the scene on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving is currently released under investigation. Enquiries are ongoing. Detective Chief Superintendent Clair Kelland, in charge of policing for south west London, told MailOnline: 'Our thoughts remain with the families of Nuria and Selena who we know are greatly loved and missed. This was a tragic incident and we understand that the families want and need answers as to what happened. We are continuing to give them specialist support through our dedicated family liaison officers who are providing updates on the investigation where they can. Specialist detectives are working tirelessly to establish the circumstances of that day, including analysing CCTV and examining the expert report from forensic collision investigators. The incident involved the large scale deployment of joint resources from the Met, LAS and LFB and we are working closely with them, as well as the Crown Prosecution Service, as part of our investigation. We recognise that 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.'
Heartbroken family members previously described Selena as a 'cheeky' young girl who was 'adored by everyone'. Selena's classmates said she was 'beautiful inside and out'. Tributes left alongside flowers outside the school described Selena as a 'star'. One said: 'You will always be our shining star. We will miss you so much.'
Another note left for Selena from one of her friends read: 'I will never forget you.'
* The full interview with Selena's parents can be seen on TalkTV on the Vanessa Feltz show.
