Brighton teenager stabbed grandmother to death 'in anger', murder trial hears

Pietro Addis stabbed Sue Addis in the bath 17 times at her home in Brighton on January 7 last year. 

One of the stab wounds was 20cm in depth, a pathologist told the jury. 

Pietro Addis, now 19, was 17 when he attacked restaurateur Mrs Addis. 

He has admitted manslaughter but denies murder due to diminished responsibility. 

The trial is to hear from two psychiatrists - one instructed by the prosecution, the other from the defence - who will give different accounts in their assessments of the teenager.

Rossano Scamardella QC, prosecuting, told the jury that the psychiatrist instructed by the prosecution will say: “The nature and circumstances of the death of Mrs Addis are in fact consistent with Pietro having killed her in anger.” 

Mrs Addis, who was 69 when she died, and her family ran the Donatello and Pinoccho Italian restaurants in Brighton, both popular with celebrities and footballers. 

The much-loved restaurant owner was a well-known figure in the city. 

The court heard the teenager had been staying with his grandmother for several weeks before she died, and she was becoming increasingly concerned about his use of cannabis. 

She told a friend he was smoking a lot of “weed”. 

Lewes Crown Court has heard Pietro called police just before 7pm on January 7 last year. 

Pietro Addis admits manslaughter but denies murder

The catering student, who also worked part time at the family restaurants, told the 999 operator: “I’m calling to hand myself in. 

“There’s been a murder.” 

When the operator asked how it happened, the teenager said: “No comment”. 

Asked how sure he was his grandmother was dead, he said: “100 per cent”. 

Mr Scamardella told the jury police found three knives at the scene. 

One was underneath Mrs Addis's body in the bath. 

Another was found on the bathmat and a third was found inside a jacket belonging to Pietro Addis. 

Mr Scamardella said: “The post-mortem examination revealed 17 stab wounds to the body. 

“Two to the neck, four to the chest, five to the abdomen, four to the left arm and two to the left leg.” 

Giving evidence to the jury, Dr Charlotte Randall, a consultant forensic pathologist who performed a post mortem examination on Mrs Addis at Brighton and Hove City Mortuary, on January 11, told the court that “one of the wounds to the chest, which cut through a rib, would have required a severe degree of force”. 

She added: “Death occurred as a result of the stab wounds to the neck and chest.” 

Dr Randall told the court that she was unable to determine in what order the 17 stab wounds were inflicted, and added that bruising on Mrs Addis’s body and stab wounds to her left arm may indicate she was trying to defend herself while in the bath. 

Judge Christine Laing QC told the jury that the original trial, which started last week, was stopped for “a variety of reasons”. 

The trial at Lewes Crown Court continues. 

READ MORE: Recap: Sue Addis murder trial is adjourned