It was around 6 a.m. when Nick Bril left star shop The Jane on Monday, January 8, and got into his Land Rover Defender. On Sunday, Bril first recorded the final episode of the second season of ‘Celebrity Masterchef’. Then he rushed to The Jane for a New Year’s party with the staff. That lasted until the early hours.
Bril drove out of his parking space and hit Joe Claridge (37), with whom he had just left the restaurant. The Brit had been doing an internship at The Jane for a week. Bril himself called the emergency services and saw how his kitchen helper was taken to hospital with serious injuries.
“My client was extensively questioned about that accident on Wednesday,” his lawyer Omar Souidi confirmed. “The fact that this had to happen quite some time after the accident is not unusual in these types of files. The day itself, my client was unable to be interviewed – he was in shock. The interrogation went well. The police acted correctly, and my client answered all questions in detail.”
Lawyer Omar Souidi arrived at the scene of the accident on the day of the accident. — © Jan Van der Perre
The images from the surveillance camera were also discussed with The Jane. According to our sources, those images show that Claridge was already on the ground before the collision. This is probably why Bril could not see the man. “To be clear: neither my client nor I have seen those images yet,” says Souidi. “That is why Nick Bril has now asked to view those images in the near future. To understand what happened there.”
Under the influence
According to reliable sources, Bril had a blood alcohol level of 1.67 per mille at the time of the tragedy. That corresponds to eight drinks. Such alcohol intake undeniably affects a driver’s reaction speed, and can also affect his vision.
Bril will probably be prosecuted for driving drunk. But will he also have to appear before the police judge for the traffic accident? That is not yet a done deal. “The investigation is ongoing,” Souidi said. The opponent, assistant chef Claridge, could not yet be questioned. It is unclear whether Bril could see the victim or not. “At the end of the day, it is up to the prosecutor to determine whether my client should be prosecuted or not,” said Souidi.
© Jan Van der Perre
Conversation with family
According to our information, Joe Claridge remains in critical condition in hospital. “Every morning Nick Bril wakes up and hopes for good news about the man,” says Souidi. “For the avoidance of doubt, he is not kept informed of Joe Claridge’s health. Medical confidentiality prevents this.”
“Nick Bril has already made it clear in many ways that he is open to a conversation with Joe Claridge’s family. He wants to help and support them where possible. That is still the case, but that conversation has not yet taken place.”