A HOMELESS man grinned and wished the judge a lovely day as he denied murdering another rough sleeper.

The man who was arrested and charged under the name Sergio Lemori told the court he wanted to be known by his real name of Sima Asif Hamzda.

The 32-year-old, who appeared by video link from HMP Lewes, smiled as he pleaded not guilty to murdering fellow rough sleeper Andrew O’Connell, 54, in the historic Royal Pavilion Gardens in Brighton.

Mr O’Connell was attacked at around 11.55pm on August 7.

Mr Asif Hamzda was adopted in Brazil by Italian parents, the court heard.

Asked if he understood his trial would start in January next year, he grinned and said: “Yes, I understand you. Have a lovely day.”

The Royal Pavilion Gardens and the museum were closed while a cordon was set up and the forensics officers searched the scene on Wednesday, August 8.

Mr Lemori was arrested in nearby Church Street at 9pm as part of Operation Dickenson.

Mr O’Connell, originally from Kent, was rough sleeping in Brighton when the incident broke out earlier this month.

His family said he was a man who was loved by many. They said: “He was a kind, intelligent man with a free spirit who loved to travel.

“As a family we are utterly devastated, hurt and angry that he has been taken so cruelly from us. We ask that our privacy is respected at this time.”