Broken Frontier

Former 2000AD artist Brett Ewins was hospitalized over the weekend of January 14-15 after an altercation with Police in Hanwell, West London, who were called in response to a disturbance in the street, and has now been remanded into custody charged with Grievous Bodily Harm after inflicting stab wounds on a Police officer.

Brett, who is 56 and has had a history of well-documented problems since suffering a breakdown in 1991, sustained severe head injuries in the incident after allegedly being struck repeatedly by Police and was apparently comatose for some days, according to his brother Russell Ewins-Kinsey.

Russell has since added that Brett also suffered fractured and broken ribs and a collapsed lung as well as being beaten around the arms, legs and shoulders in an attempt to subdue him. It is understood that Brett was carrying a knife and that a Police officer received minor wounds while attempting to disarm him. The officer apparently left hospital later the same day after receiving treatment.

Brett was reportedly kept in hospital on fluids for three weeks while recovering from the incident. He is said to have been in an extremely confused state throughout; again according to his brother. When he regained consciousness he initially thought that the year was 2003 and that he was in Thailand. He had no memory of the events that led to his being there, and seemingly still doesn’t.  He is described as still being “confused, disorientated and demoralised”.

On the afternoon of Thursday February 9, Brett was taken from the hospital to a West End Police station after being pronounced fit to be interviewed. The following morning he was taken to Uxbridge Magistrates Court (apparently still in his pyjamas and dressing   gown from the hospital, according to his brother), was charged with GBH and remanded into custody. He is due to appear in court for a preliminary hearing on Friday, February 17.   

It is understood that the Independent Police Complaints Committee is investigating the actions of Police during the incident.