Brothers Reach Plea Deal In Restaurant Beating
MOUNT CLEMENS (WWJ/AP) - Two Michigan brothers who authorities say attacked the owner of a rival Italian eatery in Shelby Township have made a plea deal in the case.
The Macomb Daily of Mount Clemens reports 59-year-old Tirami Su Ristorante owner Giuseppe D'Anna and 46-year-old Girolamo D'Anna pleaded no contest Thursday to charges of assault with a deadly weapon and witness intimidation.
The brothers earlier faced steeper charges including assault with intent to murder, extortion and witness intimidation.
Authorities say the D'Annas stormed into Nonna's Italian Kitchen near 23 Mile and Schoenherr at closing time on April 28th and beat owner 35-year-old Pietro Ventimiglia, striking him on the head 11 times with an aluminum baseball bat. Prior to the attack, Ventimiglia had expanded his restaurant from a seating capacity of 40 to 90. Nonna's is located across the street from Tirami Su.
The brothers could face two to 17 months in prison. They remain free after posting bond ahead of sentencing, which was set for Dec. 13 in Macomb County Circuit Court in Mount Clemens.
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