Tate attacker told to expect very long sentence
● Teenager was seen laughing just before he threw boy over railings
An autistic teenager could be seen laughing moments after he threw a six-year-old boy from the Tate Modern viewing platform, a court heard, telling onlookers: “It’s not my fault, it’s social services’ fault.”
Jonty Bravery spent more than 15 minutes stalking potential victims at the London art gallery before fixing on a young visitor who had briefly left his parents’ side, the Old Bailey heard.
The 17-year-old, from Ealing in west London, was said to have scooped the victim up “and, without any hesitation, carried him straight to the railings and threw him over”.
The Old Bailey heard yesterday that Bravery was deemed suitable to visit central London unsupervised on Sunday 4 August 2019 – the day he attacked the boy – despite having a history of violence to social care staff which required him to be under oneon-one supervision.
The boy still needs roundthe-clock-care after the attack.
Mrs Justice Mcgowan, who will hand down her sentence tomorrow, said of Bravery:
“Whatever happens, it [the sentence] will be for a very long time.”
Defence counsel Philippa Mcatasney said Bravery seemingly signalled his intention to commit such an offence in a secret recording apparently made by care staff. Hammersmith and Fulham Council said an independent Serious Case Review is under way.
The victim, who cannot be identified because of his age, fell around 100ft (30m) to a platform below, while disbelieving witnesses, including the boy’s parents, challenged Bravery. The victim’s father originally thought the incident was “a joke” until he saw his son’s severely injured and bloodied body below.
The child’s mother became “increasingly hysterical” and tried to climb over the railings to get to her son several stories below, but was held back by staff, the court heard.
Bravery, who is now 18 and admits attempted murder, was said to “have a big smile on his face” and told the boy’s father: “Yes I am mad.”
Prosecutor Deanna Heer said CCTV captured the incident, then showed Bravery backing away from the railings.
She said: “He can be seen to be smiling, with his arms raised. At one point, he appears to shrug and laugh.”
The court heard Bravery made his way on foot to the Tate Modern, arriving at 2:16pm, having previously scoped out the Shard, Britain’s tallest building, but was unable to afford a ticket.
Bravery appeared in court via videolink from Broadmoor, at one point sitting on the floor and another with his T-shirt pulled over his head.