A six-year-old boy who plunged 100 feet from the Tate Modern art gallery after being thrown off has suffered a deep bleed to the brain and fractured his spine, legs and arms, a court heard today.
A 17-year-old boy accused of his attempted murder appeared in court as details of the devastating injuries to his alleged victim were revealed.
The youth, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, spoke only to confirm his name, age, address and British nationality at the five minute hearing at Bromley Youth Court.
The bearded defendant from Northolt, west London, had short brown hair, and wore a grey prison tracksuit.
He showed little emotion in the dock as he was remanded into a youth detention centre to appear at the Old Bailey on Thursday.
Prosecutor Sian Morgan said: “This is an incident on the fourth of August. The complainant is a six-year-old boy and he was visiting the Tate Modern with his parents.”
She said the family were “enjoying the views” from the viewing platform when he moved a “couple of feet” from his parents.
Ms Morgan said: “It’s then that the defendant has without any warning or provocation picked up the boy and thrown him over the viewing platform.
“The boy has fallen approximately 100 feet.
“He suffered very serious injuries and he is currently in hospital and this includes a deep bleed to his brain and fractures to his spine, legs and arms.”
Members of the public apprehended the teenager before he was arrested at the scene, which was covered by CCTV cameras, the court heard.
Police said the lad, who was part of a French family visiting London, was in a critical but stable condition yesterday.
Craig Crosbie, defending, made no application for bail.
Magistrates chairman David Armitage said: “You have heard what’s been said and you are to be remanded to youth detention acomdation until Thursday the eight of August when you appear next at the Central Criminal Court in London.
“Until then you will be the responsibility of Hammersmith and Fulham borough.”
Teenager charged with attempted murder after boy, 6, injured at Tate Modern click here
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