Ex-X Factor contestant faces court over attempted murder allegation

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By Grace Mitchell

Ex-X Factor: Gabrielle Carrington Faces Court Over Attempted Murder Allegation

Ex-X Factor: what to know

Gabrielle Carrington, a former contestant on the X Factor, has appeared in court charged with attempted murder following an incident in central London where two pedestrians were struck by a car. The incident occurred on Sunday morning, leaving one woman in a life-threatening condition.

Court Proceedings and Charges

The 29-year-old Carrington, who resides in Manchester, was remanded into custody at Westminster Magistrates’ Court. In addition to the attempted murder charge, she faces charges of causing grievous bodily harm with intent, actual bodily harm, and drink-driving.

Prosecutor Rizwan Amin informed the court that the incident involved Klaudia Zakrzewska, 30, and Anoush Chyche, a man in his 50s, both of whom sustained serious injuries. Another woman, Latisha Armstrong, received minor injuries. The court was told that Chyche suffered “life-changing injuries” as a result of the collision.

Details of the Incident

The Metropolitan Police reported that officers were called to Argyll Street in Soho at approximately 04:30 BST after receiving reports of a car hitting pedestrians. Amin described the scene as a “melee,” with many people shouting, and noted that the full extent of the incident was not fully understood when officers arrived.

During the court proceedings, it was revealed that Carrington had a breath alcohol level of 61 micrograms per 100 millilitres, exceeding the legal limit of 35 micrograms.

Family and friends of Zakrzewska were present at the hearing. As Carrington was led out of the dock, she was seen making a heart sign to her supporters in the public gallery. Zakrzewska remains in a life-threatening condition in the hospital, according to the Metropolitan Police.

Carrington’s next court appearance is scheduled for 19 May at the Old Bailey. David Malone, deputy chief crown prosecutor for the CPS in north London, emphasized the importance of a fair trial and requested that no reporting or commentary be made that could prejudice the ongoing proceedings.

Further reading

Editor's note

This piece is arranged to foreground the main fact, the stakes and the related coverage most useful for follow-up reading. This page also reflects material updates made after publication.

Story details

  • Author: Grace Mitchell
  • Published: April 21, 2026
  • Updated: May 14, 2026
  • Category: Entertainment

Key developments

  • The incident occurred on Sunday morning, leaving one woman in a life-threatening condition.
  • The 29-year-old Carrington, who resides in Manchester, was remanded into custody at Westminster Magistrates' Court.
  • Prosecutor Rizwan Amin informed the court that the incident involved Klaudia Zakrzewska, 30, and Anoush Chyche, a man in his 50s, both of whom sustained serious injuries.

Why this matters

Carrington's next court appearance is scheduled for 19 May at the Old Bailey.

Background

Gabrielle Carrington, a former contestant on the X Factor, has appeared in court charged with attempted murder following an incident in central London where two pedestrians were struck by a car.

Source

This article is based on reporting from bbc.com.

About the author

Grace Mitchell

Grace Mitchell is a general news editor at Peack News. Her work spans breaking news, technology, sport, entertainment, world affairs and public-interest reporting, with a focus on clear sourcing, accurate context and accountable updates.

Expertise focus: General news editing, source-based reporting and cross-beat coverage

Areas covered: Breaking news, technology, sport, entertainment, world affairs and public-interest stories

editorial@peacknews.com