Gabrielle Carrington, the 29-year-old former X Factor finalist, shocked onlookers as she made a heart sign to loved ones from the dock while facing serious charges. Authorities accuse her of deliberately attempting to kill Klaudia Zakrzewska, a well-known Instagram influencer, by striking her with a car outside the Inca nightclub in Soho, London, in the early hours of Sunday.
Brutal Incident Outside Soho Nightclub
The horrifying event unfolded around 4:30 a.m. on a Sunday morning. Carrington allegedly drove her black Mercedes aggressively, hitting Zakrzewska and dragging her beneath the vehicle. Two additional victims—a third woman and a security guard—also suffered serious injuries during the chaos.
Footage circulating online captures a tense scene as a woman enters the Mercedes moments before it lunges forward, pinning Zakrzewska against the pavement. Prosecutor Rizwan Amin described the scene as a “melee” with shouting and confusion involving nightclub patrons and security personnel trying to intervene.
Escalation Before the Crash
According to court statements, Carrington arrived near the Inca nightclub via Argyll Street and became involved in a heated altercation with a man as she exited her vehicle. This dispute quickly escalated, drawing in multiple bystanders and prompting security staff to intervene. Carrington then re-entered her car and accelerated sharply onto the pavement.
During this reckless maneuver, the vehicle struck Zakrzewska, dragging her underneath and pinning her between the car and a metal bike rack. In addition, security guard Anoush Chyche was hit while standing on the pavement. Carrington reversed the car as Zakrzewska emerged from underneath, only to hit another bystander, Latisha Armstrong, who sustained a fractured scaphoid bone.
Charges and Court Proceedings
Gabrielle Carrington, who gained fame as part of the trio Miss Dynamix during the 2013 X Factor live finals, now faces multiple serious charges. These include attempted murder, causing grievous bodily harm with intent, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, dangerous driving, and drink driving.
Carrington’s breath test revealed 61 microgrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres, nearly twice the legal limit of 35. Despite the gravity of the accusations, she declined to enter a plea during the hearing at Westminster Magistrates’ Court.
The judge ordered Carrington to remain in custody until her next court appearance at the Old Bailey on 19 May.
Victims’ Conditions and Police Statement
The Metropolitan Police confirmed that Klaudia Zakrzewska remains in a life-threatening condition in hospital. The security guard, Anoush Chyche, suffered “life-changing injuries,” underscoring the devastating impact of the incident.
This case highlights the dangers of reckless and intoxicated driving, with authorities pursuing justice amid widespread public concern.
