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Parents of boy killed in crash to meet ambassador

Charlotte Benton
BBC News, West Midlands
Dan Sambell
BBC CWR
Fun day for Radford's Keaton

The parents of a boy who died in a hit and run say there is "light at the end of the tunnel" as they prepare for a meeting to discuss the extradition of a man suspected of killing him.

Keaton Slater, 12, died after being hit by a black BMW in Coventry on 14 June last year.

Police believe Dolars Aleksanders, 21, who is wanted on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving, is in Latvia.

His parents, Louise and Clint Slater, are due to meet the ambassador to Latvia to discuss the case "in the coming days", the country's embassy confirmed.

Family A young boy with short blonde hair, parted on the left side of his head, looks into the camera. He wears a blue football top with the top of a club logo visible just at the edge of the shot. He stands in front of a glass-paned door with a brown wooden frame.Family
Keaton's parents are due to meet Latvia's ambassador to discuss the case

The couple have been supported by Taiwo Owatemi, MP for Coventry North West, in their campaign for justice, including the extradition and road safety measures.

A spokesperson for the Latvian embassy confirmed ambassador Atis Lots had met Owatemi and that the meeting identified "several potential means" that could help to "progress the case".

West Midlands Police A boy in a black and white tracksuit giving a thumbs up signal as he stands over a pool table, with the balls racked up in a triangle. He is in an events room, which has chairs around the outside. The boy has dark brown hair and is half-smiling.West Midlands Police
Keaton Slater, 12, was killed in a hit and run on Radford Road, Coventry

The ambassador had also scheduled a meeting with Mr and Mrs Slater, the spokesperson said.

They continued: "Latvian law enforcement authorities have provided full cooperation and support to their British counterparts from the earliest stages of the investigation."

Louise Slater in a black hoodie and black t-shirt sits on a grey sofa next to Clint Slater who wears a blue t-shirt, glasses and a Coventry City FC cap.
Louise and Clint Slater said they wanted justice for their son, Keaton

Mr Slater said: "There's light at the end of the tunnel now."

They had decided to host a fun day in memory of Keaton "as a thank you" for all the help the family had received from the community, she added.

"It's really nice that we've still got the support from everyone and that is why we're doing this fun day to give a little bit back", he added.

Mrs Slater added: "When it happened, life looked so dull and horrible, we were under a dark cloud, and having something to focus on has really helped."

She said they wanted to include a football tournament as Keaton "just loved" the sport.

"The other two children were at home on their Xboxes, but he was always out playing and that's why we want to do it," she added. "We're doing this for Keaton."

"He wouldn't want us sitting there being upset all the time," Mr Slater added.

"If he looks down on us, at least he knows we're doing something positive."

The event will take place on 12 July at the ground of Coventrians RFC.

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