Keaton Slater's family demand killer face them at sentencing

Keaton Slater's family demand killer face them at sentencing

Keaton Slater was killed in a hit-and-run in June 2024

The family of 12-year-old Keaton Slater, who died in a hit-and-run, say his killer should be made to face them in court when he is sentenced for the boy's death.

Dolars Aleksanders has admitted causing death by dangerous driving and is due to be sentenced on 13 November.

The family said they had been told Aleksanders may not attend court and that, despite a change in the law due next year, prisoners cannot currently be forced to appear.

Keaton's mother, Louise, said she wanted Aleksanders to hear directly about the effect his death had on the family, adding, "for him not to listen to that, it infuriates me."

Latvian Dolars Aleksanders was extradited to the UK in August, following the death of Keaton, who was fatally injured on his way home from school in Coventry in 2024.

Louise said: "He was our ray of sunshine. The house was always so loud. He had this contagious laugh and he'd make you laugh with him.

"And now it's so quiet in the house. It's too quiet for me. I have to put the radio on for background noise. I still feel like he's going to walk through the door."

Aleksanders hit the Coventry schoolboy with his black BMW 330 on Radford Road on 14 June 2024.

It was later found that he had fled to Latvia, where he avoided police for two years.

"It's been two years, but for me it feels like yesterday still," said Louise.

"It's heartbreaking."

Keaton's father, Clint, said the wait for justice had been hard.

"It's been a living hell," he said.

"Because we didn't get justice straight away, it's surreal, isn't it? It felt like nothing was happening. But behind the scenes, it's amazing that they've actually managed to do it.

"I take my hat off to the police. It's brilliant."

Louise and Clint Slater said they hope to see their son's killer in court

The government has recently changed the law to allow offenders to be compelled to attend sentencing hearings, although the measures are not expected to take effect until next year.

"We've managed to get him back from Latvia, why can't he be in court?" Clint said.

"He shouldn't have that choice, especially because he's pleaded guilty. They should be made to go to court, but you can't be forced."

Louise said she wanted to read her victim impact statement directly to Aleksanders.

"To not be in court. I want to read my impact statement out to him because that, to me, will finalise it off," she said.

"I thought, you've put us through enough," she added.

Coventry North West MP Taiwo Owatemi has written to the justice minister on behalf of the family.

"I believe this is an injustice that the family shouldn't have to face," she said.

"He absconded knowing that he had destroyed a family, had impacted the family.

"The least he could allow the family is to look at them in the face, to listen to the impact he has had and for him to get the courtesy to listen to them."