A former X Factor contestant denied murdering an influencer outside a London nightclub. Gabrielle Carrington entered her plea without a lawyer and wiped away tears in court.
A one-time reality singing show hopeful faced a judge this week over a death that shocked the capital. She entered her plea alone, without a lawyer beside her, and grew emotional as the proceedings unfolded. A trial date has now been set for the new year.
Gabrielle Carrington pleaded not guilty to murdering influencer Klaudia Zakrzewska
Gabrielle Carrington denied murdering Klaudia Zakrzewska during a hearing at the Central Criminal Court on Monday, Aug. 3. The former X Factor contestant, 29, appeared via video link from jail and faced the judge alone.
“As I’m not represented, I am happy to give a plea today even though I am not represented,” Carrington said, according to The Independent. She reportedly wiped tears from her face during the proceedings. Along with the murder charge, she also pleaded not guilty to causing grievous bodily harm with intent.
Authorities allege the incident stemmed from a road rage confrontation outside the Inca nightclub on Argyll Street in London’s West End. Prosecutors say Carrington got into a car in Soho around 4:30 a.m. on April 19 before striking Zakrzewska and security guard Anoush Chyche, according to the BBC and The Independent. Prosecutors further allege that the vehicle reversed while Zakrzewska was lying on the pavement. Chyche survived with “life-changing injuries.”
Zakrzewska, 32, spent six days in hospital before she died on April 25. Authorities initially charged Carrington with attempted murder before upgrading the charge to murder following the influencer’s death.
Judge Sarah Whitehouse scheduled the case for trial at the Old Bailey beginning Jan. 5, 2027. Meanwhile, Carrington, who is from Manchester, remains in custody.
Carrington reached the X Factor live finals in 2013 as one of the three members of the girl group Miss Dynamix. She has since built a following of more than 361,000 on Instagram.
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