Assault on singer 'out of character'

Accusations that a New Zealand peace activist assaulted a rising rock star in London are completely out of character, says a former friend.

Angie Denby, of Napier, knew Christiaan Briggs when they worked for the Greens in the city and described him as warm and friendly.

The 30-year-old has been charged with causing grievous bodily harm to Billy Leeson, the lead singer of Les Incompetents, by punching him, causing him to hit his head on the ground.

Ms Denby, a Green Party official, said she found it hard to believe what was being written about Briggs, such as reports that he laughed as he ran away after the altercation, which has left Leeson in a critical condition.

She said he got on with everybody: "He can fit in in any part of society."

Ms Denby said Briggs, who was a Green list candidate in London in the 2002 election, was a hard-working campaigner who did not mind the "dreary" jobs.

"He was always fundraising and was very generous with his time."

An architectural draughtsman, he was interested in eco-homes and had been doing work with a London company that made straw bale houses.

She said his family in Napier were shattered by the accusations. His mother, Karyn, had flown to London to support her son.

Briggs and Leeson, 19, are alleged to have argued after Briggs made advances to the singer's girlfriend on a bus on June 22.

Napier-born Briggs went to St John's College in Hastings and was a regular performer with the Napier Operatic Society.

In 2003 he joined a convoy of double-decker buses to Baghdad to be a "human shield".