An 18-year-old has pleaded guilty to attempted murder after allegedly throwing a six-year-old boy from the 10th floor of London’s Tate Modern art gallery.
Jonty Bravery, from west London, appeared at the Old Bailey for a short hearing on Friday. He was remanded in custody by the judge, Recorder of London Nicholas Hilliard QC, ahead of his sentencing hearing at a later date.
The victim, who cannot be named because of his age, continues to recover slowly in his native France after spending months in intensive care. He suffered a bleed on the brain and fractures to his spine, legs and arms.
Writing on a GoFundMe page last month, which has raised about £130,000 for his medical treatment, the boy’s family said he was “now able to venture outside” and had regained some movement in his legs. His parents added that their “little knight” was also able to give them kisses for the first time since he was injured.
Bravery, of west London, was arrested moments after the incident on the 10th storey balcony of the tourist attraction on August 4.
Commenting on the case, CPS prosecutor Emma Jones said: “This devastating and shocking incident at the Tate Modern on 4 August of this year changed the lives of Bravery’s young victim and his family forever.
“The boy was singled out by Bravery, who threw him from the viewing platform intending to kill him.
“That he survived the five-storey fall was extraordinary.
“Eye witness accounts and CCTV footage, along with Bravery’s admissions at the time of the arrest that his actions were pre-planned, meant he had little choice but to accept responsibility for his actions.
“There will be no trial as a result, and the boy’s family are spared having to relive this traumatic experience in court.
“This was a terrifying experience for the boy’s parents and our thoughts are very much with them all at this difficult time. We hope he makes as full a recovery as possible.”
Bravery’s lawyer Philippa McAtasney QC told the court he had been assessed as having autistic spectrum disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder and was likely to have a personality disorder.
Before entering his guilty plea, Bravery confirmed his identity and said his nationality was “white British”.
Speaking via video link from custody, he was asked how he pleaded to the charge of attempted murder and replied: “I plead guilty. Guilty, yeah correct.”
Mr Justice Edis adjourned sentencing until February 17 for the completion of a report.