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Murder accused X Factor singer gets legal deadline

Adina CampbellUK Correspondent
News imageJulia Quensler Courtroom sketch showing a woman seated at a witness stand, speaking into a microphone. Papers and a glass of water rest on the desk in front of the witness.Julia Quensler
Gabrielle Carrington was not represented in court by a barrister on Tuesday afternoon

A former X Factor finalist accused of murdering a woman by running her over with a car in central London has been given seven days to confirm who will represent her at her trial.

Gabrielle Carrington, 29, denies killing Klaudia Zakrzewska outside the Inca nightclub in Soho on 19 April. Zakrzewska, 32, died from her injuries six days later.

It is alleged a woman got into a car before it lurched forward and hit Zakrzewska.

Carrington, from Manchester, appeared at the Old Bailey and told the court it would be "crazy" to represent herself and said she would confirm her chosen legal firm by 17 August. She was not represented in court by a barrister on Tuesday afternoon.

News imageRIELLEUK / Instagram A woman in a light brown dress stands in front of a car, with a shell necklace and straight black hair.RIELLEUK / Instagram
Carrington's trial is due to begin at the Old Bailey on 5 January
News imageklaudiaglam Klaudia Zakrzewska in a desert with blue sky. She wears an off-the-shoulder bikini style top which is taupe. Her hair is long and dark and behind her shoulders. She looks directly at the camera and has a small pendant necklace on. klaudiaglam
Zakrzewska was a TikTok and Instagram influencer who went by the name Klaudiaglam

Carrington, who has more than 365,000 followers on Instagram under the handle RIELLEUK, made it to the X Factor live finals in 2013 as one of the three members of Miss Dynamix.

She has already pleaded not guilty to murder and to a second charge of causing grievous bodily harm with intent against security guard Anoush Chyche.

Chyche, who is in his 50s, suffered what prosecutors describe as "life-changing injuries".

Carrington's trial is due to begin on 5 January.

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