Man who killed homeless man by repeatedly dropping slab on his head jailed for life

Sergio Lemori was sentenced at Lewes Crown Court in East Sussex

A man who repeatedly dropped a paving slab on the head of a homeless, resulting in his death, was sentenced to life in jail on Monday. Sergio Lemori, 33, was caught on CCTV carrying the slab towards homeless man Andrew O'Connell, 54, along Brighton's Royal Pavilion Gardens in the summer of 2018. The footage then showed Lemori, who was of no fixed address, dropping the slab on Mr. O'Connell's head four times in quick succession. The murder occurred on the night of August 7, 2018, and Lemori admitted to murder in December 2018. Mr. O'Connell, who was found seven hours later, died from his injuries in hospital two days later. It is understood that the two men did not know each other. Detective Inspector Mark Woodall, of Sussex Police, said: "This was a completely unprovoked attack on a vulnerable and defenceless man who was unknown to Lemori, and who was simply minding his own business as he slept rough in Brighton's Royal Pavilion Gardens that night. "The incident has caused a huge amount of distress to Mr O'Connell's family, who are understandably bewildered as to how and why this tragic incident occurred. "We are satisfied that justice has been served and one more dangerous criminal has been removed from the streets of Sussex."