A driver has been found guilty of murder after killing one man and ploughing into several others during a drink-fuelled spree in London’s West End on Christmas Day.
Anthony Gilheaney, 31, went on trial at the Old Bailey, accused of carrying out a string of unprovoked, violent attacks on five people in the early hours of 25 December 2024, including using his high-powered Mercedes to strike and kill 25-year-old Aidan Chapman.
He also knocked down Arif Khan with his car, then got out and physically assaulted him after shouting a racial slur.
The jury heard he later deliberately drove at three others: Marcelo Basbus-Garcia and his partner, Miguel Waihrich, as well as Mr Chapman’s friend, Tyrone Itorho.
The prosecution alleged Gilheaney targeted people for racist and homophobic reasons, but he told jurors he was not in control of the vehicle after he had been attacked by a group of men earlier that night, and he did not intend to hurt anyone.
Gilheaney, from Harlow, Essex, had admitted the manslaughter of Mr Chapman, as well as unlawfully wounding Mr Khan, causing grievous bodily harm to Mr Basbus-Garcia and Mr Waihrich and assault occasioning actual bodily harm against Mr Itorho.
He previously pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving, dangerous driving and possessing a bladed article in a public place.
But he denied murder, wounding with intent, three counts of attempted murder, two counts of causing grievous bodily harm with intent and one count of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm throughout.
On Friday, the jury convicted Gilheaney of murdering Mr Chapman, attempting to murder Mr Basbus-Garcia and Mr Itorho and wounding Mr Khan with intent.
Gilheaney was cleared of attempting to murder Mr Waihrich but convicted of the alternative charge of causing him grievous bodily harm with intent.
He will be sentenced on 30 January.
After the conviction, Mr Chapman’s family said: “No parent should have to go through the hellish trauma of losing a child, words cannot describe the pain and anguish Anthony Gilheaney has caused us by his evil actions.
“He took our only son from us. Something we will never get over. Something we will never forgive.”
The trial heard that Gilheaney left a nightclub in the early hours of Christmas Day 2024 and got into an argument with a stranger, assaulted another unknown man, and then attacked Hardeep Singh, a Sikh man, without provocation as he walked along Shaftesbury Avenue.
He then got into his car and began hurling abuse at Mr Khan, calling him a “P***”.
When Mr Khan went to confront Gilheaney, the defendant knocked him to the ground with the car.
Gilheaney then got out of the car and threw Mr Khan to the ground and kicked him.
Mr Singh came back with friends and saw Gilheaney attacking Mr Khan in Archer Street, before he and his group beat the defendant up.
The confrontation was captured on an Uber driver’s dashcam, after which Gilheaney got into his own car and deliberately rammed the Uber vehicle.
He then drove back and forth along the street, mounting the kerb and sending pedestrians running in panic.
Gilheaney drove at Mr Basbus-Garcia and Mr Waihrich, who were walking along the street holding hands after attending midnight mass and, further along Shaftesbury Avenue, driving into Mr Chapman and Mr Itorho.
Mr Chapman was hit full on, suffering catastrophic brain damage, and died in hospital on New Year’s Eve.
Following the attacks, police spotted Gilheaney’s erratic driving and gave chase.
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He eventually jumped out of his moving car and ran off and police later found him passed out in Holborn, central London.
Gilheaney was said to have been tearful and apologetic to police at the scene, telling one officer: “I am sorry for everything I have ever done. I will admit to everything. I am guilty. I am sorry.”
When he was formally interviewed later, he claimed he could not remember anything.
He told jurors he had drunk up to six cans of a vodka cocktail mix before arriving at a bar that night.
Gilheaney had never held a driving licence but told the court he had “always” liked being at the wheel of powerful cars. He used false plates to conceal his identity.
Detective Chief Inspector Wayne Jolley said: “Throughout the investigation, he has refused to acknowledge the seriousness of his offences, making every attempt to portray himself as a troubled victim.
“I commend the jury for seeing through this act.”
