A driver has admitted to killing a 12-year-old boy, Keaton Slater, in a hit-and-run incident in Coventry, United Kingdom. Dolars Aleksanders, a Latvian national, was extradited to the UK last month to face charges in connection with the boy's death.
Aleksanders, 23, appeared at Warwick Crown Court via video link from HMP Dovegate on Thursday. He pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving and identifying himself. His sentencing is scheduled for November 13. Aleksanders' defense lawyer indicated that no bail application would be made. Keaton's parents, Louise and Clint Slater, were present in the public gallery during the court proceedings.
Justice Matthew Walsh acknowledged the seriousness of the guilty plea, stating, "You have entered your guilty plea to this very serious matter."
The incident occurred on June 14, 2024, when Aleksanders struck Keaton Slater with his black BMW 330 on Radford Road as the boy was returning home from school. West Midlands Police reported that the vehicle was traveling at a speed significantly exceeding the limit at the time of the collision, and there were four occupants in the car.
Crimestoppers had offered a reward of £10,000 for information leading to Aleksanders' arrest. He had fled to Latvia following the incident, prompting extradition efforts by British authorities. After evading law enforcement for over two years, Aleksanders was flown to Gatwick Airport on Wednesday and subsequently transferred to a custody facility in the West Midlands.
A spokesperson for the Crown Prosecution Service, Ben Samples, stated that British and Latvian authorities, along with international agencies, collaborated closely to ensure Aleksanders faced legal proceedings in a UK court.