Racist Christmas rampage: Man convicted of murdering pedestrian with Mercedes

Anthony Gilheaney faced trial over a Christmas Day car rampage in central London (Jordan Pettitt/PA) Jordan Pettitt

A man has been convicted of murder for killing a 25-year-old pedestrian and injuring multiple others during a drink-fueled rampage through London's West End on Christmas Day 2024. Anthony Gilheaney, 31, used his high-powered Mercedes as a weapon, targeting victims in what prosecutors described as racist and homophobic attacks.

The jury at the Old Bailey found Gilheaney guilty of murdering Aidan Chapman, who died on New Year's Eve after suffering catastrophic brain damage. Gilheaney was also convicted of two counts of attempted murder, wounding with intent, and causing grievous bodily harm with intent.

Chapman was struck at full force as he walked along Shaftesbury Avenue with a friend in the early hours of Christmas morning. Five other people were attacked during the rampage, which left a trail of destruction across central London. Six people were hospitalized that night.

The Rampage

The violence began after Gilheaney left a nightclub on Shaftesbury Avenue, already drunk from consuming spirits. Prosecutor Crispin Aylett KC told the court Gilheaney got into an argument with a stranger, punched another complete stranger, then launched an unprovoked attack on a Sikh man, Hardeep Singh.

Gilheaney then racially abused Arif Khan, calling him a slur before driving at him and knocking him to the ground. When Singh and his friends retaliated by beating up Gilheaney, the defendant became enraged. Aylett said: «The defendant, who by now appears to have been beside himself with rage, then set his sights on pedestrians in Great Windmill Street.»

CCTV footage showed Gilheaney, shirtless and standing in the middle of the road, shouting and swearing. He then targeted a gay couple who had been returning from midnight mass in Piccadilly, deliberately driving at them as they held hands. One was knocked to the ground, and as his partner bent down to help, Gilheaney drove at him too.

The prosecutor described the scene: «To say the defendant had been driving like a maniac is a gross under-statement. He had been using his car like a weapon.» Gilheaney mounted kerbs, causing pedestrians to flee in panic, and rammed an Uber driver's vehicle, causing £10,000 in damage.

The Verdict and Defense

Gilheaney, who had never held a driving license and was banned from driving in 2023, claimed he did not intend to harm anyone. He admitted to manslaughter and lesser charges midway through the trial but denied murder and attempted murder.

When found by police passed out in Lincoln's Inn Fields after fleeing his crashed vehicle, Gilheaney told officers: «I hold my hands up, I don't care. I am so sorry for everything I have ever done. I will admit to everything. I am guilty, I'm sorry.» However, he later claimed memory loss during formal interviews.

The prosecution argued Gilheaney acted in a «drink-fuelled rage» motivated by racist and homophobic hatred. Aylett told the jury: «By the time he reached Shaftesbury Avenue he was completely and utterly out of control. He deliberately drove across the street intending to kill someone, and that is what happened.»

Sobbing could be heard from the public gallery as the guilty verdicts were delivered. Gilheaney will be sentenced on January 30.

Note: This article was created with Artificial Intelligence (AI).