Same-sex couple 'attacked' in Christmas Day frenzy

A gay couple returning from Midnight Mass reportedly became victims of a violent, homophobic attack on Christmas Day, during which one man was fatally struck, a jury has been told.

Anthony Gilheaney, 30, stands trial at the Old Bailey, accused of running over five pedestrians in London's West End in the early hours of 25 December 2024. One of the victims, 25-year-old Aidan Chapman, died, and four others sustained serious injuries.

Prosecutors claim Gilheaney deliberately targeted Marcelo Basbus-Garcia and his partner Miguel Waihrich, hitting them with his vehicle twice in what they describe as a spree of alcohol-fueled assaults.

Gilheaney denies charges including murder, attempted murder, grievous bodily harm, and wounding.

Eyewitness Account

Mr Waihrich told the court he made eye contact with Gilheaney as the car approached a second time, while his partner lay unconscious, bleeding. "I remember his eyes, the position of his hands on the wheel, his face, and me pleading for him to stop. He didnt," he recounted.

The couple had been walking home to Bloomsbury after Midnight Mass in Piccadilly and entered Great Windmill Street, where they encountered Gilheaney standing shirtless in the road, shouting. They waited until he re-entered his car and drove away.

Waihrich described the vehicle reversing at "very high speed," creating chaos among pedestrians. During the panic, the couple became separated, and Basbus-Garcia was struck and thrown to the ground.

"The car came after me, but it seemed he was targeting everyone on that street," Basbus-Garcia told jurors. He sustained a head injury and a fractured collarbone.

Waihrich then ran to shield his partner, using his body as protection during the second impact. He suffered a fractured elbow and a knee injury. Both were taken to hospital in serious condition.

Homophobic Motive

Prosecutor Crispin Aylett KC described the assault on the couple as motivated by homophobia.

Another witness, Ayyat Mahmood, recounted encountering Gilheaney while out with his family. He said Gilheaney reversed towards them and aggressively attempted to strike his three-year-old niece in her pram.

The rampage continued as Gilheaney allegedly hit Chapman and his friend Tyrone Itorho on Shaftesbury Avenue. Chapman sustained catastrophic brain injuries and later died in hospital on New Year's Eve.

The trial is ongoing.

Author's Analysis: Escalating Hate-Fueled Violence in London

The case currently unfolding at the Old Bailey underscores the extreme consequences of homophobic violence. The evidence presented suggests a deliberate targeting of Marcelo Basbus-Garcia and Miguel Waihrich, resulting in the tragic death of Aidan Chapman and severe injuries to multiple others. Eyewitness accounts emphasize both the calculated nature of the attacks and the chaotic environment created by the driver.

From a broader perspective, this incident highlights a disturbing trend of alcohol-fueled aggression intersecting with bias-motivated crimes. The prosecution asserts a clear homophobic motive, a claim reinforced by the pattern of targeting and eyewitness testimony describing deliberate attempts to harm the couple.

The ongoing trial will determine accountability, but the case already raises urgent questions about public safety, hate crime prevention, and the measures necessary to protect marginalized communities. The events of Christmas Day 2024 serve as a stark reminder of the lethal risks posed by unchecked prejudice in public spaces.

Sources:

• Gay couple 'targeted' in Christmas Day rampage

Author: Ava Mitchell
Ava Mitchell is a journalist covering culture, art, and literature. She is known for her creative approach and ability to produce in-depth features and interviews.