Instagram influencer Klaudia Zakrzewska, known online as Klaudiaglam, has tragically passed away after being struck by a car outside a nightclub in Soho. The model and social media personality was left in critical condition in hospital following the incident in the early hours of Sunday morning, which also involved two other pedestrians.
X Factor finalist Gabrielle Carrington, 29, from Manchester, appeared in court on Tuesday charged with the attempted murder of fellow content creator Klaudia, according to reports from the Mirror. Officers initially charged Carrington with attempted murder, grievous bodily harm with intent, actual bodily harm, dangerous driving, and drink driving on Monday night, approximately 36 hours after the alleged incident. Carrington reached the live finals of the X Factor in 2013 as a member of the girl group Miss Dynamix.
Following Klaudia's death, the Metropolitan Police confirmed that the charge of attempted murder will be amended to murder. Detective Chief Inspector Alison Foxwell, leading the investigation, said: "We would like to express our deepest sympathies to Klaudia's family and friends in light of this tragic update. Our thoughts are also with everyone impacted by this incident."
She added: "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. 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. The circulation of such material could also undermine our ongoing criminal investigation and potentially prejudice future court proceedings."
Klaudia, in her 30s, was born in Poland and had 258,000 followers on Instagram. She had been at Inca nightclub before the crash where she was hit. Disturbing footage circulating on social media appears to show her becoming trapped beneath the vehicle as bystanders rushed to her aid.
Shortly after the collision, a friend posted on Instagram alongside a broken heart emoji: "No one understands the kind of pain I'm carrying right now. It feels like everyone is more interested in being fast, nosy, or twisting the story into something that isn't even real and it's tearing me apart inside. While they talk and speculate I'm the one left with the memory of watching my best friend, someone I love, get killed right in front of me... left there, fighting for their life, slipping away. That image doesn't leave me. It replays over and over and I can't escape it. And somehow, I'm expected to just sit with that. To hold all of it in while people who weren't hurt in a way I don't even have words for. It feels heavy, lonely, and suffocating like I'm stuck carrying some."
On Tuesday, the court was told the collision also left security worker Anoush Chyche, aged in his 50s, with "life-changing injuries", while a third woman, Latisha Armstrong, aged in her 30s, received treatment for minor wrist injuries. More than a dozen relatives and friends of both Carrington and Ms Zakrzewska looked on from a packed public gallery, where court security personnel were seated alongside them. Court documents revealed that Carrington was over the drink-drive limit, recorded at 61 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 milligrammes, at the time of her arrest. District Judge Nina Tempia remanded her in custody.
