THE trial of a 19-year-old accused of murdering his grandmother is due to begin today.
Pietro Addis, of Radinden Manor Road, Hove, denies murdering his 69-year-old grandmother, restaurant boss Sue Addis, on Thursday January 7 last year.
The popular restaurant owner was found dead with multiple stab wounds at her home in Cedars Gardens, Brighton.
A jury was sworn in at Lewes Crown Court yesterday and the trial is being presided over by Judge Christine Laing QC, the Honorary Recorder for Brighton and Hove.
The 19-year-old sat in the dock with his head bowed as the trial opened yesterday. The final jury of 12 members of the group of 14 sworn will be chosen today before the opening of the prosecution case.
Prior to the opening of the case, the jury was warned by the judge not to seek any information about the proceedings and not to discuss them outside of the courtroom.
Reporting restrictions protected Addis’s identity until his 18th birthday in March last year.
Ms Addis’ death has caused shock around Brighton, with hundreds of people paying their respects to the grandmother.
She first opened Pinocchio’s with her husband Pietro in 1987 and soon after opened the 400-seat Donatello in Brighton Place in The Lanes.
Sue Addis was a popular figure in Brighton
In 2004, the restaurant chain was named one of the country’s top 100 and the family built an empire worth around £6million.
Celebrities, footballers and MPs have paid tribute to the popular businesswoman who has done a lot of charity work within the community.
Caroline Lucas, Green MP for Brighton, said: ‘So shocked and saddened to hear the devastating news of the death of the amazing Sue Addis.
“So many people in Brighton will be left heartbroken – she was such a special presence in the town, her passion for this place and its people was infectious, and her kindness legendary.
“She will be greatly missed.”
In the days following her death, the Addis family released a statement which remembered Ms Addis as “a pioneering figure in Brighton and Hove’s business community”.
“To us she was a loving and devoted mother and grandmother and as a family we now ask for the time and space to mourn her loss and begin to come to terms with life without her,” he said. -he declares.
In his previous appearance at Hove Crown Court, Addis denied killing his grandmother before Judge Laing QC.
Rossano Scamardella QC is pursuing the case at Lewes Crown Court, with Sarah Elliott and Daniella Waddoup defending.
The jury was told the trial was expected to last eight days.
More about this article: Read More
Source: www.theargus.co.uk
This notice was published: 2022-04-20 09:50:00
