Gabrielle Carrington Faces Murder Charge After Klaudia Zakrzewska Dies in Soho Car Hit

Klaudia Zakrzewska, a 32-year-old social media influencer from Essex known as Klaudiaglam, died six days after she was hit by a car outside a nightclub in Soho, central London, police said.

“- Published A social media influencer has died six days after a car hit her and other pedestrians outside a nightclub in central London”

BBC

The incident happened on Argyll Street at about 4:30am on 19 April, and she was taken to hospital before being pronounced dead on Saturday, 25 April, according to the BBC and Sky News.

BBC

The Metropolitan Police said the charge of attempted murder was amended to murder after Zakrzewska’s death, and Detective Chief Inspector Alison Foxwell said: "We would like to express our deepest sympathies to Klaudia’s family and friends in light of this tragic update."

Foxwell added: "Our thoughts are also with everyone impacted by this incident."

The BBC reported that Gabrielle Carrington, 29, of Broadfield Road, Manchester, had previously been charged with attempted murder, and that following Zakrzewska’s death the charge would be amended to murder.

The Guardian similarly said Zakrzewska was injured in Argyll Street, Soho, at about 4.30am on 19 April and was pronounced dead on Saturday, while Carrington appeared in court accused of trying to kill Zakrzewska outside the Inca nightclub.

Sky News reported that Carrington appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, 21 April and was remanded in custody to next appear at the Old Bailey on Tuesday, 19 May, after the attempted murder charge was amended to murder.

Police described the crash as a car hitting Zakrzewska and other pedestrians outside a nightclub in central London, with the incident occurring in the early hours of 19 April.

The BBC said the collision happened outside a nightclub in central London on Argyll Street in Soho at 04:30 BST on 19 April, and that Zakrzewska was taken to hospital but died on Saturday.

Daily Express

The Guardian reported that Zakrzewska was injured in Argyll Street, Soho, at about 4.30am on 19 April and that a 58-year-old man suffered life-changing injuries in the incident.

Multiple outlets named the other injured people, including a security guard and a woman treated for a wrist injury, with The Times identifying the security guard as Anoush Chyche, 58, and the wrist-injury patient as Latisha Armstrong in her thirties.

The London Evening Standard said two other people were injured, including a security guard, 58, who sustained life-changing injuries, and it also said the crash happened outside a nightclub on Argyll Street in the early hours of Sunday, April 19.

The Guardian said Carrington was accused of dangerous driving, being nearly twice the drink-drive limit and causing injuries to two other people—a third woman and a security guard—who were also allegedly hit by her Mercedes.

In addition to the charge upgrade, the BBC and Sky News both reported that Carrington had been charged with attempted murder initially, and that after Zakrzewska’s death the charge was amended to murder.

As the case moved through the courts, outlets reported that Gabrielle Carrington, 29, appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court and was remanded into custody to appear at the Old Bailey on 19 May.

The BBC said Carrington appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court on 21 April and was remanded into custody to appear at the Old Bailey on 19 May, while also stating that the charge of attempted murder would be amended to murder after Zakrzewska’s death.

Sky News likewise said Carrington appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, 21 April and was remanded in custody to next appear at the Old Bailey on Tuesday, 19 May.

The Guardian reported that Carrington appeared in court on Tuesday accused of trying to kill Zakrzewska outside the Inca nightclub, and that the attempted murder charge would be increased to murder after Zakrzewska’s death.

The Daily Express described Carrington’s appearance as being accused of attempting to murder Zakrzewska outside the Inca nightclub, and it said she did not enter any pleas during the hearing and would next appear at the Old Bailey on May 19.

The London Evening Standard said Carrington was due to appear at the Old Bailey on Tuesday, 19 May, and it repeated that police said the charge of attempted murder would be upgraded to murder following Zakrzewska’s death.

Across the reporting, the charges listed for Carrington included attempted murder, grievous bodily harm with intent, actual bodily harm, dangerous driving and drink driving, with the murder charge taking effect after Zakrzewska’s death.

Detective Chief Inspector Alison Foxwell repeatedly urged restraint as the case drew attention on social media, with multiple outlets quoting her warnings about speculation and graphic footage.

The BBC quoted Foxwell saying: "We recognise that this case has generated significant interest and discussion on social media; however, we would urge the public to refrain from further speculation."

El-Balad

The BBC also included Foxwell’s statement: "We also ask that people do not share graphic footage out of respect for Klaudia’s loved ones and for those who have been injured."

Sky News carried the same core message, quoting Foxwell: "We recognise that this case has generated significant interest and discussion on social media, however, we would urge the public to refrain from further speculation."

Sky News also quoted Foxwell’s warning that: "The circulation of such material could also undermine our ongoing criminal investigation and potentially prejudice future court proceedings."

The Guardian similarly quoted Foxwell asking people not to share graphic footage and warning that circulation could undermine the criminal investigation and potentially prejudice future court proceedings.

LADbible added that David Malone, deputy chief crown prosecutor in London North, said: "It is vital that there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings."

Alongside the criminal case, outlets described a fundraising effort launched in Zakrzewska’s mother’s name and the public grief that followed her death.

The BBC said a fundraiser launched in the name of Zakrzewska's mother described the 32-year-old as having a "pure heart" and quoted a message: "This is the most devastating time our family has ever faced. "Those who know me understand how much I love my daughter and what a special bond we have."

Evrim Ağacı

The Guardian reported that nearly £18,000 had been crowdfunded for Zakrzewska’s treatment and her family’s legal fees, and it quoted the GoFundMe page set up by her mother saying: "If at any time things take a turn for the worst, additional funds will go towards funeral costs and continuous support for the family."

The Guardian also quoted Zakrzewska’s mother, Kinga, writing: "Those who know me understand how much I love my daughter and what a special bond we have, and I cannot give up on my baby girl."

Sky News said a GoFundMe page set up by Zakrzewska's mother had raised over £18,000, and it described her as a TikTok and Instagram influencer known by the name of Klaudiaglam.

The London Evening Standard said her distraught mother Kinga had earlier shared an update revealing the influencer was in a coma, and it also said Zakrzewska was known on social media as Klaudiaglam and had more than 250,000 followers on Instagram.

The Times reported that the crowdfunding page launched in the name of Zakrzewska’s mother, Kinga, had raised nearly £18,000 and included the tribute that she had a "pure heart" and the line: "This is the most devastating time our family has ever faced."