Chef who ran over a British intern after his restaurant’s employees get together, inflicting the sufferer to lose each his legs tells trial’s first day he ‘doesn’t declare to be harmless’ as prosecutors name for 18-month jail time period
A chef who caused a British intern to lose both legs when he ran over him with his vehicle after his restaurant’s staff party has told a court today that he ‘does not claim to be innocent’.
During the first day of the trial, prosecutors called for an 18-month jail sentence for celebrity chef Nick Bril, who left Joe Claridge critically injured in the incident.
Belgian prosecutors are also seeking a three-month driving ban and a €4,400 fine.
The incident happened in the early hours of January 8, 2024, in a private staff car park outside Bril’s two Michelin star restaurant, The Jane, in Antwerp.
Dressed in a black suit in court, he was accompanied by his lawyer Omar Soudi and his wife, Frencheska Bril-Donze, with whom he shared a kiss while leaving the premises.
Addressing the court, he said: ‘I am not here to pretend to be an innocent person or to act as if I am. There is not a day that goes by that I do not think about the facts.’
Bril, who said he respected Claridge, had prepared a statement in English, in case the victim was present. He also stated that he could ‘only imagine what the last few years must have been like for’ Claridge.
The court heard Bril had attended a New Year’s party after work and drank heavily, including wine, two Negroni cocktails, two beers and several tequila shots.
At around 6am, he allegedly drove his Land Rover Defender over Claridge, who was lying on the ground after also drinking.
Nick Bril, who is accused of running over a British intern arrived in court for the first day of his trial
The court heard Bril first ran over Joe Claridge while reversing, then drove forward over him again. Claridge was left critically injured and spent six weeks in a coma
In court, Bril said he ‘respected’ the victim and added he could ‘only imagine what the last few years must have been like for’him
Prosecutors said Bril first ran over him while reversing, then drove forward over him again. Claridge was left critically injured and spent six weeks in a coma.
The court was told that the chef waited for nine minutes after he ran Claridge over to call for help.
Prosecutors said: ‘Joe had drunk too much and was waiting for a taxi. We don’t know why he fell to the ground, but he was a visible obstacle, regardless of what Nick Bril says. A sober driver would have seen him lying in the road.’
Although Bril said he had no idea what had happened at the time, the prosecution insisted that he must have realised that he had run someone over.
They argued: ‘The surveillance camera footage shows Joe moving. Yet, Nick Bril waited nine minutes before calling emergency services.
‘He told a passing jogger that someone who was extremely drunk was on the ground. He didn’t say he had run him over. He also didn’t tell the emergency services the whole story.’
Bril’s lawyer, Omar Souidi, argued for acquittal, telling the court: ‘He has not seen that he ran over Joe Claridge. That is crucial. Slow action, not perfect action, is not the same as no action.
‘Moving your car is logical, you cannot stay in place and flee at the same time. He stayed and cooperated.’
Two hours after the crash, a breath test showed Bril had 1.75 promille of alcohol in his blood.
Nick Brill shared a kiss with his wife, Francheska Bril-Donze, as they left the court premises
Bril’s lawyer, Omar Souidi, right, argued that his client stayed and ‘cooperated’ with officials after the incident. He added that ‘slow action, not perfect action, is not the same as no action’
Bril later told authorities about his drinking that night, saying: ‘One glass of wine, then two Negronis and two beers.
‘Then I finished with a few shots of tequila with the team. I can’t say how many. I think I was still able to drive.’
It was said that the investigation also uncovered messages sent by Bril after the incident.
In one message to a staff WhatsApp group at The Jane, he allegedly wrote: ‘Guys, I just finished up with our new intern. Complete KO. An ambulance and the police, everything involved. I don’t think we’ll keep Joe as an intern.’
