A driver who killed 12-year-old Keaton Slater in a speeding collision and then fled to Latvia has been jailed for nine years and four months. Aleksanders Dolars, 23, was sentenced by Judge Kristina Montgomery KC at Warwick Crown Court.
The court heard that Dolars was driving at 75-76mph in a 30mph zone when he hit Keaton Slater in Coventry on 14 June 2024, killing him instantly. Keaton was travelling home from school with friends and had just stepped onto Radford Road.
Dolars did not stop after the collision and fled to his native Latvia within days. He evaded capture for over two years because there was no extradition treaty between Latvia and the UK post-Brexit.
Keaton's parents campaigned to bring Dolars to justice, supported by Taiwo Owatemi, MP for Coventry North West. He was finally extradited to England in August 2026 and pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving.
Keaton's family expressed their unhappiness with the sentence, stating it was not long enough. His mother, Louise Slater, noted that Dolars would serve two-thirds of his sentence, meaning he would be released in six years.
MP Taiwo Owatemi also stated she was "incredibly angry" at the sentence and would support the family in an attempt to get it reviewed by the Court of Appeal.