British DJ David Taylor has apologised to the "beautiful country of Bali" over his role in the death of a police officer and said: "It fills me with the deepest sadness I have ever felt to be a part of the loss of a human life".
Prosecutors have requested that Mr Taylor and his girlfriend, Byron Bay woman Sara Connor be jailed for eight years for the alleged fatal group assault of Wayan Sudarsa. The couple are being tried separately.
Mr Sudarsa's body was found on the beach in front of the Pullman Hotel in Legian on August 17 with 42 wounds including severe head injuries.
Mr Taylor, who has admitted to bashing Mr Sudarsa with a beer bottle, binoculars and a mobile phone during a fight but said he was acting in self-defence, offered his "deepest heartfelt apologies to everybody involved in this terrible accident".
"I would like to say sorry to the beautiful country of Bali and everyone that lives here and to the police force and the colleagues of Wayan Sudarsa," Mr Taylor told the Denpasar District Court. "But mostly to the family of Wayan Sudarsa for their terrible loss."
He said it had never been his intention to cause harm to anybody and he was unfortunate enough to find himself in a "terrible situation where eventually I was forced to protect my own life".
Ms Connor, 46, and Mr Taylor, 34, have both maintained throughout the trial that Ms Connor's only role was to try and separate the two men as they fought on the beach.
Mr Taylor's lawyer, Haposan Sihombing, told the court he believed eight years' jail was too heavy a sentence given his client did not intend to cause the death of the victim.
He said Mr Taylor had tried to defend himself after Mr Sudarsa attacked him. "At one point David felt his life was in danger when his throat was pressed so hard by (Mr Sudarsa) that he could hardly breathe," Mr Sihombing said.
Mr Taylor had testified in earlier hearings that the fight started after Mr Sudarsa pushed him after he searched the police officer's pockets because he believed he was a fake cop who had stolen Ms Connor's handbag.
"So at the time David pulled the binoculars from the victim's neck and hit the victim's face, along with the hand phone, beer bottle .. resulting in the victim stopping moving," Mr Sihombing said. "It happened so fast that the only thing in the defendant's mind was to get away from the fight and to save himself, using whatever he could reach, because he was cornered."
Mr Sihombing said Mr Taylor was young, still had a chance to rehabilitate himself, and came from a good family. His father, John, was a minister and both parents had attended the trial from its beginning. "David wishes to return as soon as possible to his loving family."
Mr Sihombing said Mr Taylor was shocked and saddened the fight had caused the death of the victim and a "deep scar" to his family and had sent a sincere letter of apology.
"During the trial David frankly admitted to his actions and was very co-operative. David truly regrets the incident."
Asked by Chief Judge Yanto if he regretted his actions, Mr Taylor said: "Oh yes, very much so."
"I would like to give my deepest thanks to the prosecution and to the honourable judges for their patience and understanding throughout the trial so far," Mr Taylor said.
"I ask that they take into consideration all the facts and evidence and the witnesses' statements that we have seen so far."
Mr Tayor will be sentenced on March 13. He told reporters outside the court that he was ready.
