A jury of four men and eight women has been selected for the trial of 19-year-old Pietro Addis who is charged with the murder of his grandmother.
The teenager admits that he killed Sue Addis, the much-loved Brighton restaurant boss, at her home in Cedars Gardens, Brighton.
But Pietro Addis, of Radinden Manor Road, Hove, who was 17 at the time, denies the charge of murder.
Addis is accused of murdering his 69-year-old grandmother on Thursday 7 January 2021.
A case is a retrial with Judge Christine Laing, the honorary recorder of Brighton and Hove, presiding.
The judge told the jury: “We did previously try to try this case but we couldn’t get it finished for a variety of reasons.”
The jury was told that Mrs Addis ran two Brighton restaurants, Donatello and Pinocchio, and that her family still does.
She was also well known for her charity work, the jury was told, notable with the Martlets, Rockinghorse and Crisis.
Rossano Scamardella and Daniel O’Donoghue are prosecuting the case. Sarah Elliott and Kate O’Raghallaigh are defending.
Mr Scamardella is expected to open the case for the crown this afternoon (Monday 20 February).
The trial continues.
