A Latvian man has been extradited to the UK and charged with the death of a schoolboy killed in an alleged hit-and-run. Keaton Slater, 12, was pronounced dead at the scene after he was struck by a black BMW on Radford Road, Coventry, in June 2024.
More than two years later, Dolars Aleksanders, 23, has been charged with causing death by dangerous driving following an extradition operation involving British and Latvian authorities. West Midlands Police said he was detained in Latvia last month. The 23-year-old was flown to Gatwick Airport on Wednesday and taken to a custody block, where he remains on remand.
Police said Keaton’s parents were being supported by specially trained officers and had been updated on the developments.
The 12-year-old’s family previously spearheaded a campaign to bring Aleksanders back to the UK, including by launching a petition with tens of thousands of signatures.
Ben Samples, spokesperson for the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), said: “The CPS 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.”
Mr Samples added: “Our prosecutors have worked to establish that there is sufficient evidence to bring the case to court to pursue criminal proceedings.
“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.”
Aleksanders is due to appear before Birmingham Magistrates’ Court on Thursday.