Celebrity Murder Plea
X Factor Finalist Gabrielle Carrington Pleads Not Guilty to Murder in Soho Influencer's Death
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Key Points
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Carrington rose to fame on The X Factor in 2013 as part of the girl group Miss Dynamix and now has more than 365,000 Instagram followers under the handle RIELLEUK.
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Prosecutors described an ongoing dispute between the parties prior to the collision, and noted that the individuals involved were known to each other.
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Video footage circulating online reportedly shows a woman getting into a black car before it accelerates and strikes Klaudia Zakrzewska.
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The court schedule includes a trial at the Old Bailey starting on January 5, with further pre-trial hearings set for August 11 and October 9.
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Klaudia Zakrzewska died six days after the incident (on or around April 25), which led to the charge being upgraded from attempted murder to murder.
Gabrielle Carrington, a 29-year-old former X Factor finalist, pleaded not guilty to murder at the Old Bailey on Wednesday. She is accused of driving a black car into social media influencer Klaudia Zakrzewska outside the Inca nightclub in Soho in the early hours of April 19, according to ITV News and Evening Standard.
Zakrzewska died six days after the incident, on or around April 25. That death prompted prosecutors to upgrade Carrington's charge from attempted murder to murder. Carrington, who has more than 365,000 Instagram followers under the name RIELLEUK, appeared in court via videolink from Bronzefield Prison.
X Factor Fame to Murder Charge at the Old Bailey
Carrington rose to public attention in 2013 as a member of the girl group Miss Dynamix on The X Factor. She has since built a social media following of over 365,000 on Instagram. Now she faces a murder charge at one of England's most prominent courts, according to London Now.
She also faces two other charges. The first is causing grievous bodily harm with intent to security guard Anoush Chyche, who was injured in the same incident. The second is driving with excess alcohol. ITV News reported that Carrington has not yet entered pleas on all counts.
Dispute Before the Crash: What Prosecutors Say Happened
Prosecutors say the people involved in the incident knew each other. They described an ongoing dispute between the parties before the car struck Zakrzewska. Video footage circulating online reportedly shows a woman getting into a black car. The car then accelerates and hits Zakrzewska outside the Soho nightclub, according to Evening Standard.
Several bystanders were also injured in the incident. The collision happened in the early hours of April 19. Zakrzewska was taken to hospital but died from her injuries six days later. That death changed everything about the case against Carrington.
Carrington Represents Herself, Struggles to Find a Lawyer
Carrington appeared in court without a barrister. She told the court she did not want to represent herself but would plead unrepresented. ITV News reported she said she was having difficulty choosing legal representation. The judge noted her situation during the hearing.
Despite representing herself, Carrington entered a clear not guilty plea to the murder charge. The case is complex and high-profile. The court will need to ensure she has proper legal support before trial, according to London Now.
Trial Set for January 2026, With Two Hearings Before Then
The trial at the Old Bailey is scheduled to begin on January 5, 2026. Before then, two pre-trial hearings are set. The first is on August 11. The second is on October 9. Evening Standard and ITV News both confirmed the court schedule.
The case has drawn wide media attention. It involves a well-known entertainment figure, a popular social media influencer, and a fatal incident in one of London's busiest nightlife areas. Carrington remains in custody at Bronzefield Prison ahead of the next hearing.
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