A driver who knocked down and killed a man during a drink-fuelled Christmas Day rampage in London‘s West End has been convicted of murder.
Anthony Gilheaney, 31, launched a series of unprovoked and violent attacks against five people in the early hours of December 25 2024.
This included using his high-powered Mercedes to hit and kill 25-year-old Aidan Chapman.
Mr Chapman suffered catastrophic head injuries and tragically died in hospital on New Year’s Eve.
Gilheaney called Arif Khan a racial slur before he knocked over with his car and then physically attacked.
He then deliberately drove at three others: Marcelo Basbus-Garcia and his partner, Miguel Waihrich, and Mr Chapman’s friend – Tyrone Itorho.
During his trial at the Old Bailey, prosecutors alleged that Gilheaney targeted people for racist and homophobic reasons, but the 31-year-old told jurors he was not in control of the vehicle after he had been attacked by a group of men earlier that night, and that he did not intend to hurt anyone.
The defendant, from Harlow, Essex, later admitted to 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.
Anthony Gilheaney, 31, launched a series of unprovoked and violent attacks against five people in the early hours of December 25 2024
Dash cam footage captured Gilheaney on his booze-fuelled rampage across London’s West End
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.
The jury convicted him today of murdering Mr Chapman, attempting to murder Mr Basbus-Garcia and Mr Itorho and wounding Mr Khan with intent.
He 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 January 30.
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.
‘No amount of justice or prison time will ever be enough to compensate for our loss.
‘Gilheaney has taken the best part of us. He has left us with a dark void in our lives that can never be filled.
Aidan Chapman, 25 (pictured), died in hospital after being hit by a car in the early hours of December 25 last year
Pictured: The scene on Shaftesbury Avenue in central London after a car was driven onto the pavement
‘He took our only son from us. Something we will never get over. Something we will never forgive.’
The court heard that Gilheaney left a nightclub in the early hours of Christmas Day 2024 and got into an argument with a complete stranger.
He then punched another stranger and attacked Hardeep Singh, a Sikh man, unprovoked as he walked past, the trial heard.
He then got into his car – despite not having a license – and started shouting abuse at Mr Khan, calling him a ‘P***’.
When Mr Khan went into the street to confront Gilheaney, the defendant drove forward before reversing back, knocking him to the ground.
Gilheaney got out of the car and attacked Mr Khan, throwing him to the ground and kicking him.
Mr Singh returned with friends and found Gilheaney in the process of attacking Mr Khan before he and his group beat the defendant up, the court heard.
The incident was recorded on the dashcam of an Uber driver, whose vehicle Gilheaney rammed into after he got into his own car.
Harrowing CCTV showed Gilheaney mounting the pavement on a busy London street
The defendant then drove up and down the street, mounting the kerb and causing pedestrians to flee in panic.
He drove at Mr Basbus-Garcia and Mr Waihrich who were walking along the street holding hands, having been to midnight mass.
He then drove 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.
The defendant eventually jumped out of his moving car and ran off, leaving the vehicle to smash into a signpost.
Police later found him passed out in Lincoln’s Inn Fields in Holborn, central London.
Gilheaney was said to have been tearful and apologetic to police at the scene, telling one officer: ‘I hold my hands up, I don’t care… I am sorry for everything I have ever done. I will admit to everything. I am guilty. I am sorry.’
But when he was later formally interviewed, he claimed he could not remember anything or identify himself driving the car on CCTV camera footage.
Gilheaney told jurors he had drunk up to six cans of a vodka cocktail mix before he arrived at a bar that night and admitted he had driven before in a ‘tipsy’ condition.
He said a friend spiked his vape with cannabis while they were in the club which made him angry but he was persuaded to stay.
He was drunk when midnight came and left soon afterwards, explaining that he was later circling back to find his pregnant girlfriend.
Gilheaney, who has never had a driving licence but told the court he has ‘always’ liked being at the wheel of powerful cars, accepted that his motoring history is ‘shocking’.
It has included dangerous driving and, since he did not have a licence, Gilheaney also said he used false number plates to help cover his tracks whenever parking tickets or other offences triggered interest in the vehicle.
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.’
