Influencer Faces Charges in Assault Incident
An influencer has been accused of intentionally running over a rival with her car, making a heart gesture as she appeared in a British court on attempted murder charges.
Gabriel Carrington, aged 29, greeted friends and family while signing autographs in London’s Westminster Magistrates Court on Tuesday. This came just days after he allegedly struck 30-year-old Claudia Zakruszewska in an altercation outside a nightclub. Reports indicate the incident happened following an argument, as detailed by BBC News.
Carrington, a former member of the girl group Miss Dynamics and a participant on The X Factor in 2013, spoke briefly in court, primarily to acknowledge her identity. She faces charges that include attempted murder, grievous bodily harm, and drink-driving.
According to the Metropolitan Police, Ms. Zakruszewska remains in critical condition after the incident, which occurred around 4:30 AM on Sunday outside the Inka nightclub. Prosecutors alleged that she was “trapped and dragged” beneath Carrington’s car.
Disturbing video footage circulating on social media reportedly captures the two influencers exchanging blows while bystanders record the scene. The video then shows Carrington getting into her vehicle and driving straight into Zakruszewska, injuring two other individuals in the process.
A CCTV recording played in court depicted an altercation involving Carrington and another man upon her arrival at the scene, which escalated and drew more members of the public into the fray. Prosecutor Rizwan Amin stated that Carrington soon drove away, hitting pedestrians on the pavement.
Zakruszewska, originally from Poland and known on Instagram as “Claudiagram” with approximately 270,000 followers, was reported to have been caught under the vehicle after being “locked in and dragged,” according to Amin.
Amin highlighted that Carrington had nearly double the legal alcohol limit when police tested her shortly after the events unfolded.
Two additional victims were identified: Anoush Shishu, a 50-something security guard, who sustained “life-changing injuries,” and Latisha Armstrong, a woman in her 30s, who sustained a wrist injury during the incident.
When authorities arrived, chaos ensued with a “scuffle” reported outside the nightclub, amidst screams from the crowd. Amin remarked that the full extent of the situation was unclear at that moment.
It is believed the fight stemmed from a prior dispute among the individuals involved, who were allegedly familiar with one another. Carrington, who boasts over 365,000 followers on Instagram under the handle RIELLEUK, has been remanded into custody and is set for her next hearing at the Old Bailey on May 19.
