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 Billy Leeson |
Iraq 'human shield' put musician Billy in coma
Peace activist pleads guilty to attacking up-and-coming rock star
A PEACE activist has pleaded guilty to an attack that left an up-and-coming Kentish Town rock star in a coma.
Christiaan Taylor Briggs was a ‘human shield’ in Iraq before the war but turned on Billy Leeson, 19, after failing to chat up the young singer’s girlfriend on a number 29 bus in Camden Road.
New Zealander Mr Briggs, 30, now faces jail after pleading guilty to grievous bodily harm at Snaresbrook Crown Court on Monday.
Mr Leeson, from Brecknock Road, is still recovering at home after the attack left him in a two-and-a-half week coma at the Royal Free Hospital in Hampstead.
Mr Briggs, from Kingsbury, Brent, punched Mr Leeson and he landed on the pavement with such force that a piece of his skull had to be removed by surgeons.
Billy, who was not in court, is still waiting to hear whether the piece of skull, which went septic and had to be removed, can be put back or will have to be replaced with a titanium plate.
He was the lead singer in Les Incompétents, an indie band tipped for big things, which has subsequently split.
Billy was on the way to his home in Brecknock Road after a sell-out gig with his girlfriend Elli Bradshaw at the Barfly in Chalk Farm when he was attacked by Mr Briggs.
Prosecutor Terry Lavell said: “The victim’s girlfriend decided to get off the bus with her boyfriend. The defendant decided to go after them.
“The victim was then struck to the ground and that resulted in him hitting his head on the ground. They were strangers on the bus.”
His Crown Prosecution Service colleague, Lee Ingham said Mr Briggs was of “previous good character”.
Mr Briggs describes himself in an internet encyclopaedia entry as “a draughtsperson, designer, uncle and some might say political activist”.
He helped organise “human shield resistance” in Iraq with the ‘Truth Justice Peace Human Shield Action Group’ prior to the invasion in 2003.
Mr Briggs turned himself in to a police station following witness appeals for Mr Leeson’s attacker to come forward.
Judge Peter Birts QC adjourned the case for medical reports and a statement from Mr Leeson.
Mr Briggs was granted unconditional bail but must observe a 10pm to 7am curfew and will be sentenced in October.
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