Former X Factor finalist Gabrielle Carrington, who appeared on the show as part of the group Miss Dynamix in 2013, has denied murdering a social media influencer by running her over with a car in Soho, central London. The 29-year-old is alleged to have struck Klaudia Zakrzewska with a car outside the Inca nightclub in Argyll Street, at 4.30am on Sunday, April 19 this year.

The singer and influencer was not represented by a barrister as she appeared at the Old Bailey on Monday, August 3, via video link from Bronzefield prison. She pleaded not guilty to murder and a second charge of causing grievous bodily harm with intent to security guard Anoush Chyche. She was not asked to enter a plea to a third charge of driving with excess alcohol. She had initially been charged with attempted murder, but that was changed to murder after Zakrzewska died from her injuries six days after the incident.

Wearing a black top and with her hair tied back, Carrington reportedly became emotional and was seen wiping tears from her face throughout the short hearing.

She was placed into custody following the hearing, and Judge Whitehouse confirmed she would try the case at the Old Bailey from January 5, 2027. She set a further pre-trial hearing for August 11 and October 9.

She also ordered that the defendant be physically brought to the Old Bailey for her next hearing.

The prosecutor, Rizwan Amin, told the court previously: "Officers had attended for 5am along with the London ambulance service, who were at the scene… it could only be described as a lot of people shouting."

The prosecutor added CCTV shows Carrington arriving at Argyll Street in her car, "during this time she seems to have an altercation with a male".

"She exited her car, this altercation had escalated to involve several other members of the public, and security tried to intervene to separate others involved. Ms Carrington was seen to return to the vehicle, which shows her immediately moving off and sharply mounting a pavement.

"During this manoeuvre, the vehicle had struck Ms Klaudia, who was positioned on the front side of the vehicle, and was trapped and dragged under the vehicle."