Peace activist 'laughed after assault'

Witnesses to an alleged assault by a New Zealand peace activist on a rising rock star in London said the attacker laughed as he ran away.

Christiaan Briggs, 30, has been charged with causing grievous bodily harm to 19-year-old Billy Leeson, the lead singer of Les Incompetents.

Leeson is in a stable but critical condition after brain surgery.

Police allege Briggs punched Leeson, causing him to hit his head on the ground.

Briggs declined to comment when contacted in London yesterday.

"As you can imagine my lawyer has advised me to make no comment until the court proceedings are over."

Napier-born Briggs was among a group of anti-war protesters who travelled to Iraq in 2003 to act as human shields. He has been working as an architectural technician in North London and has a weblog called last-straw.net.

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

Detective Senior Sergeant Sean Smyth of the Islington CIB appealed for witnesses to the assault in Camden Rd in a statement released following the incident.

"Witnesses reported having seen the suspect laughing as he headed north towards the Holloway Rd after the attack," Mr Smyth said. "If it helps to jog people's memories the assault took place the night Australia played Croatia in the World Cup."

Briggs went to a police station to talk to officers about the incident.

Leeson was still in a coma when Briggs appeared in the Highbury Corner Magistrates' Court on Tuesday charged with grievous bodily harm. He is due back in court on July 17.

The Daily Mirror on Saturday quoted Leeson's brother Stan saying: "Billy could pass away. It is touch and go. The next 48 hours are crucial."

Les Incompetents has received radio play and supported Babyshambles, which is fronted by Pete Doherty, supermodel Kate Moss' former boyfriend.

Napier-based Green Party official Angie Denby said she knew Mr Briggs, who was a list candidate for the party in 2002.