A man who brutally attacked another man in Brighton in 2018 has been convicted of murder again.

Sergio Lemori repeatedly dropped a stone slab onto the head of Andrew O’Connell – who was unknown to him – as he was sleeping in Royal Pavilion Gardens.

He was sentenced to life imprisonment following the unprovoked incident about 11.56pm on 7 August, 2018.

After serving more than six years of his term in prison, he successfully appealed against his conviction on the basis of diminished responsibility.

The case went for retrial at Hove Crown Court on Monday 27 July, where a jury returned a unanimous guilty verdict on Thursday 6 August.

Lemori, now 40, was remanded in custody to appear before the same court on Tuesday 11 August, where he was re-sentenced to life imprisonment, with a minimum term of 25 years.

Tragically, Andrew was only discovered at 7.10am the morning after the attack.

He was taken to Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton, where he sadly died from his injuries two days later, aged 54.

Andrew lived in Chatham, Kent, but was known to voluntarily sleep out in the open on occasions.

His family released this tribute to him:

“Today, we remember not the person who caused so much pain, but the person whose life mattered beyond measure.

“Although the defendant chose to appeal, the truth remained unchanged. Justice has once again spoken, and the guilty verdict stands. While no court decision can undo the loss or erase the suffering, it reaffirms what we have always known—that Andy deserved justice, dignity, and to have his voice heard.

“We honour a life that was taken far too soon, a life that touched so many people with love, kindness, and memories that will never fade. His absence is felt every day, but so too is his lasting impact on everyone fortunate enough to have known him.

“This journey has been long and painful. We have faced heartache, uncertainty, and the emotional weight of reliving unimaginable events. Yet through it all, we have remained united in our determination to seek justice and to ensure that the victim is never forgotten.

“Today is not a celebration of a verdict—it is a tribute to a life. The guilty verdict does not bring Andy back, but it does affirm that his life mattered, his story mattered, and the truth prevailed.

“May Dad/Andy forever rest in peace, remembered with love, honoured with dignity, and never forgotten.”

Detective Inspector Debbie Birch, of the Major Crime Team, said: “Firstly, I’d like to commend the incredible strength and courage shown by Andrew’s family, who have had to endure court proceedings for a second time. I hope that following the unanimous guilty verdict, they are finally able to find some solace.

“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 in Brighton’s Royal Pavilion Gardens that night, having been given prior permission to sleep there.”

Image supplied by Sussex Police