A man who was injured following a road traffic collision in central London on Christmas Day has died. The man, named as 25-year-old Aidan Chapman, sadly died from his injuries in hospital on New Year’s Eve.
His next of kin have been informed and are being supported by specialist officers. A post-mortem examination will take place in due course. The Met’s Specialist Crime Command is now leading the investigation, and Aidan’s death is being treated as a homicide.
Aidan’s parents said in a statement, “The loss of our beautiful son is a parent’s worst nightmare. We are utterly devastated with the loss of Aidan. He enriched everyone’s lives. He was a loving, kind, funny soul and the world is a darker place without him. We, his parents, have lost the best part of ourselves.”
Detective Chief Inspector Wayne Jolley, from the Met’s Specialist Crime Command, said, “Our thoughts are with the victim’s friends and family at this difficult time. My team are continuing to conduct enquiries to establish all the facts surrounding the circumstances, however it has been confirmed as an isolated incident which is not terror-related.
“We would appeal to anyone who holds any CCTV or dash cam or mobile phone footage of the incident to come forward as well as anyone else who might have had contact with the suspect that evening.”
Police were called at 00:45hrs on Wednesday, 25 December, following reports of a road traffic collision and a car driving on the wrong side of the road in Shaftesbury Avenue, W1.
A 30-year-old man appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Friday, 27 December, charged with four counts of attempted murder, causing serious injury by driving whilst disqualified, driving a motor vehicle dangerously and possession of a bladed article in a public place.
He was remanded in custody to appear at the Old Bailey on Friday, 24 January. The charges will be reviewed by the court following the death of Aidan Chapman.
