Man admits killing bricklayer

By Web Reporter

A MAN has admitted responsibility for the death of a 25-year-old Harlow bricklayer who died almost a year ago.

Lee Williams, pictured, also known as Lee Clark, was found unconscious with head injuries in an underpass in the Hides, Harlow, on April 22 last year and died at Queen's Hospital, Romford.

At Chelmsford Crown Court on Tuesday (April 8), Colin Ansell (29) of Pittman's Field, Harlow, pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Mr Williams, who lived at Gibson Court, Harlow.

Ansell was due to have faced a three-week trial before a jury on a murder charge but the prosecution accepted his plea to the lesser offence.

Judge Christopher Ball QC directed that a murder charge should lie on the file.

Prosecutor Noel Lucas QC said Mr Williams died following an incident in which he received a number of blows and fell over and struck his head on the ground. There was no evidence of any weapon being used.

The court heard that Ansell had two previous convictions for assaults on police in 1994 and in 1996 he was convicted of wounding, violent disorder and affray.

Judge Ball adjourned the hearing for pre-sentence reports which he said should address the question of what danger or risk the defendant posed to the public in the future.

Ansell was remanded in custody and is due to return to court for sentence in May.