A participant from the X Factor competition has refuted accusations of fatally hitting a social media influencer with a car in downtown London. Gabrielle Carrington, 29, reportedly collided with Klaudia Zakrzewska, 32, outside the Inca nightclub on Argyll Street, Soho, at 4:30 a.m. on April 19.
Initially charged with attempted murder, Carrington’s charge was upgraded to murder following Ms. Zakrzewska’s passing on April 25. During a plea hearing at the Old Bailey via videolink from Bronzefield prison, Carrington opted to represent herself without legal counsel.
Declaring not guilty to the murder charge and an additional charge of causing severe bodily harm with intent concerning security guard Anoush Chyche, Carrington did not enter a plea for a third charge of driving with excessive alcohol. She expressed uncertainty about her legal representation for the trial, acknowledging the gravity of the decision.
Judge Sarah Whitehouse scheduled the trial at the Old Bailey to commence on January 5, with pre-trial hearings set for August 11 and October 9. Directly engaging with the judge and prosecutor Crispin Aylett KC during the proceedings, Carrington took notes on a large pad.
Remanding Carrington into custody, Judge Whitehouse ordered her presence for the upcoming hearing at the Old Bailey. The incident allegedly involved Carrington engaging in a dispute with a man upon arriving on Argyll Street in her vehicle. The altercation escalated, involving more individuals and prompting security personnel to intervene.
After re-entering her car and sharply driving onto the pavement, Carrington purportedly struck Ms. Zakrzewska and then hit security staff member Mr. Chyche, causing severe injuries. Emergency services arrived at 5 a.m. to the scene filled with commotion, following the incident outside the Inca nightclub where Ms. Zakrzewska succumbed to her injuries and Mr. Chyche sustained life-altering harm.
Reportedly, Carrington had 61 microgrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath tested post-incident as per court records. Known for her social media presence with over 365,000 followers on Instagram under the handle RIELLEUK, Carrington was a 2013 X Factor finalist as part of the group Miss Dynamix.
Ms. Zakrzewska, known as Klaudiaglam on TikTok and Instagram, was also a social media influencer.
