A 30-year-old man is accused of murdering a pedestrian and injuring several others during a drunken driving rampage in London’s West End.
Anthony Gilheaney allegedly drove “like a maniac” along Shaftesbury Avenue in the early hours of Christmas Day 2024 after leaving a nightclub. Jurors at the Old Bailey heard that Gilheaney was in a “drink-fuelled rage,” repeatedly mounting kerbs and targeting random pedestrians.
He is accused of striking 25-year-old Aidan Chapman “full-on,” causing catastrophic brain injuries from which Chapman later died. Five others were hospitalized. Prosecutors said Gilheaney also targeted a gay couple, hitting them deliberately, and attacked an Asian man before getting out of his car to punch and kick him.
CCTV footage presented at the trial shows Gilheaney driving erratically, ramming vehicles, and shouting in the street. Police later captured him after a pursuit through central London. Gilheaney admitted to dangerous driving and possessing a knife but denies murder and other charges, including attempted murder and causing grievous bodily harm.
The prosecution described Gilheaney’s actions as intentional and motivated by a combination of alcohol and anger following the death of his brother 18 months earlier.
Gilheaney, who had been banned from driving at the time, allegedly left a trail of carnage across the West End, culminating in Chapman’s fatal injuries. The trial is ongoing.
Senior prosecutors emphasized the severity of the attack, noting the random nature of the violence and the devastating impact on victims and their families.
