A British boxer has been jailed for 20 years a week after being convicted of murdering a Spanish teenager following a petty 'road rage' brawl on the Costa del Sol.
Lewis Briggs, 25, was jailed for 18 years for the savage murder and a further two for fraud and robbery for trying to elude police by changing the number plates of the Mercedes he fled from. crime scene at.
Sentencing judge Javier Soler said the expatriate, who often boxed at a Marbella gym linked to Irish crime boss Daniel Kinahan, showed “absolute disdain” for victim Ulrich Perez as the teenager ran errands for his mother, stabbing him in the heart and then running away.
He said in a 15-page ruling that sealed Briggs' fate: 'After fatally assaulting him, he fled the scene and subsequently escaped Spain via Portugal to the United Kingdom, where he was eventually arrested.
'There can be no doubt that Briggs' intention was to end Ulrich's life before he fled, without offering him any assistance, despite the wound he caused with the knife.'
Lewis Briggs, 25, was jailed for 18 years for the savage murder and a further two for fraud and robbery for trying to elude police by changing the number plates of the Mercedes in which he fled the crime scene.
The nine jurors decided by a majority of 8-1 that it was proven that Briggs murdered Ulrich Perez (pictured), 19, near his home in Diana Park, between the tourist towns of Marbella and Estepona, as his victim returned from a trip to the supermarket.
Judge Javier Soler said the expatriate, who used to box at a Marbella gym linked to Irish crime boss Daniel Kinahan, showed “absolute disdain” for the victim as the teenager ran errands for his mother, stabbing him in the heart and then attacking him. run
Briggs claimed he accidentally stabbed his victim after consuming alcohol and cocaine at an all-night party, although he admitted he turned around and got out of the car with a knife he took from the glove compartment.
Briggs was found guilty last Monday, at the end of a six-day trial in a Malaga court, of jumping out of his Mercedes and fatally stabbing his “defenseless” victim in a “surprise” attack, after turning around and hunting him down. it after a race. -in moments before.
The nine jurors decided by an 8-1 majority that it was proven that Briggs murdered 19-year-old Ulrich near his home in Diana Park, between the tourist towns of Marbella and Estepona, as his victim returned from a trip to the supermarket.
The jury chairman announced in a brief address to the court that he had also unanimously concluded that the personal trainer had removed the number plates from his UK-registered Mercedes rental following his terror crime and stolen spare parts from an unsuspecting neighbor's vehicle. .
The trial judge reserved sentence after reading the verdict.
Ulrich died after being kicked and stabbed in the heart shortly after 2:30pm on November 18, 2020. He had reprimanded Briggs less than two minutes earlier for driving too fast towards a zebra crossing where he was standing.
His killer was arrested in December 2020 near Leeds, after a five-week international manhunt, and extradited to Spain.
Lewis Briggs is seen, right, wearing a white shirt in court during the trial
Ulrich Perez's mother, Tatiana Perez Martinez, 43, and his father Juan Carlos Espinoza, 46
Briggs, who said he boxed professionally after giving evidence on the first day of his trial on September 23, claimed he accidentally stabbed his victim after consuming alcohol and cocaine at an all-night party, despite admitting to turning around and left. his car with a knife he took from the glove compartment.
But the jury foreman, rejecting Briggs' defense lawyer's closing speech claiming that a manslaughter conviction and a 15-month prison sentence would be the right decision, said: “We think it is proven by a majority of 8 -1 that the accused kicked the victim and stabbed him. a surprise and unexpected attack from which he had no chance to defend himself.
He added: “The victim was not prepared for the attack and the evidence was that he still had a shopping bag in his hand.
“He didn’t let go of the bag until the other man kicked him before stabbing him in the left side.
'The attack from the moment the defendant exited the car to the moment he returned to the vehicle and drove away only lasted about 10 seconds.'
As well as being sentenced to 20 years in prison, Briggs was also ordered to pay his victim's mother, Tatiana Perez, £85,000 and two brothers £21,000 in compensation.
The expat, whose mother Michelle broke down in tears in court after hearing the murder verdict, is expected to appeal.
