The brother-in-law of the Earl of Shaftesbury has admitted killing him in a drunken brawl.
Mohammed M'Barak initially denied killing the 66-year-old Earl, from Hove, and being in the French resort of Cannes where the Earl disappeared on November 5 last year.
But when he appeared in a French court, M'Barak admitted killing Lord Shaftesbury and putting the body in his car.
The Earl's body was found five months later, dumped eight miles outside Cannes.
Lawyer Melanie Juninger said: "He did not mean to kill him and wants to ask forgiveness for this terrible accident."
The Earl - real name Anthony Ashley Cooper - was renting a flat in Adelaide Crescent when he disappeared.
Lord Shaftesbury had gone to France to make up with his third wife and M'Barak's sister, Jamila Ben M'Barak.
Jamila M'Barak, 43, accused of conspiracy to murder, alleged her brother beat the Earl to death in a row about money.
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