British man admits to attacking cop who died

Indonesia: Briton and Australian girlfriend held by police

A British man arrested in the killing of a police officer on the island of Bali has confessed to attacking the Indonesian man and leaving him unconscious.

David Taylor and his Australian girlfriend, Sara Connor, were arrested on Friday, two days after the body of traffic police officer Wayan Sudarsa was found on the beach outside the Pullman Hotel in Kuta.

The couple had been drinking beer on the beach in the hours before the latenight encounter. Denpasar police chief colonel Hadi Purnomo said Taylor, 45, admitted getting into a fight with Mr Sudarsa after Connor realised she had lost her handbag and accused the officer of stealing it and being a fake police officer.

Police said the dispute escalated after Taylor tried to search Mr Sudarsa, who pushed the Briton to the ground.

Taylor’s lawyer, Haposan Sihombing, said his client admitted to hitting the Indonesian with a mobile phone, binoculars and beer bottle, but he did not realise the officer would die.

Mr Sihombing said Connor, 33, tried to help Taylor during the fight, but her lawyer, Erwin Siregar, said she denies being involved.

Prosecutors will decide charges after police submit their investigation report.

A conviction for intentional murder in Indonesia has a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison.

SUSPECT: Police officers escort David Taylor at a police station in Bali, Indonesia