Mr Bril reportedly told the authorities he had consumed “one glass of wine, then two negronis and two beers. Then I finished with a few shots of tequila with the team. I can’t say how many. I think I was still able to drive.”
The victim was also reportedly drunk that evening as it was a Sunday, when the staff traditionally finishes off the opened bottles of wine and champagne.
At 6am, there were still eight people present at the party before Mr Claridge left for the taxi stand in front of the restaurant.
According to CCTV reportedly seen by investigators, Mr Bril left the restaurant and headed to his Land Rover.
The footage does not show how Mr Claridge fell to the ground, but does allegedly capture the car at 6.20am apparently reversing over where he was laying before driving over him a second time.
‘I panicked’
Mr Bril got out of the car and walked to a still-moving Mr Claridge. The chef reportedly said that he tried to wake him up “but that didn’t work and I panicked.”
The jogger appeared at 6.29am and asked Mr Bril why he had not called an ambulance. He later told local media that the chef said he had a new phone that he didn’t know how to use.
The jogger then walked to the front desk of a nearby hotel and asked them to call the emergency services, who arrived and took the British chef away.
Mr Bril reportedly sat in his car with the engine ready to drive off, with only the ambulance blocking his way.
Police breathalysed him and found he was over the limit, it was reported. He is not only suspected of intoxication behind the wheel and the accident itself, but also committed negligence by not immediately providing assistance.
After the accident, Mr Claridge’s mother immediately travelled to her son in hospital where he was in a coma for 50 days. Both of his legs had to be amputated.
Omar Souidi, Nick Bril’s lawyer, told local media he couldn’t reach his client and thought he was probably abroad.
“I note that journalists today appear to have quicker access to a secret investigation than the parties directly involved,” he said.
“If this is the case, it is shocking and a manifest violation of, among other things, Nick Bril’s rights of defence and the right to a fair trial.”
Antwerp public prosecutor’s office refused to comment as the investigation is still ongoing.