Latvian Extradited & Remanded in Custody Over Fatal Hit-and-Run Death of Coventry Schoolboy Keaton Slater

A 23-year-old man extradited from Latvia has been remanded in custody after appearing before magistrates charged with causing death by dangerous driving following a fatal collision in Coventry that killed a 12-year-old schoolboy.

Dolars Aleksanders spoke only to confirm his personal details during a brief initial hearing at Birmingham Magistrates' Court after being returned to the UK to face criminal proceedings.

The charge relates to a fatal collision on Radford Road, Coventry, on 14 June 2024, in which 12-year-old Keaton Slater was struck by a black BMW while walking home from school. Emergency services pronounced the victim pronounced dead at the scene.

The defendant was detained in Latvia last month before being flown to Gatwick Airport and transported to a custody suite in the West Midlands following a multi-agency extradition operation involving domestic and international law enforcement.

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Addressing the defendant during the preliminary hearing, the court formally remanded him in custody to appear before Birmingham Crown Court on 3 September, noting that the allegation can only be tried in the higher court.

The Crown Prosecution Service authorised the charge following a complex international operation involving West Midlands Police, the Home Office, Latvian authorities, Europol, the Joint International Crime Centre, CPS International, and the CPS Extradition Unit.

Ben Samples, representing the Crown Prosecution Service, said: "The Crown Prosecution Service has decided to charge Dolars Aleksanders with one count of causing death by dangerous driving following a police investigation into a fatal road traffic collision that led to the death of Keaton Slater. Our prosecutors have worked to establish that there is sufficient evidence to bring the case to court to pursue criminal proceedings."

He added: "CPS West Midlands has worked closely with West Midlands Police, Home Office, the Latvian authorities, Europol, the Joint International Crime Centre (JICC), CPS International and our Extradition Unit to bring Mr Aleksanders back to face proceedings in a UK court for an alleged crime that took place here."

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West Midlands Police confirmed that specialist family liaison officers continue to support the victim's family, who attended the court hearing, as the matter progresses to the Crown Court stage.