Furniture king Franco Cozzo tells Melbourne court son threatened his life
FURNITURE king Franco Cozzo says he is living in fear of his only son who has been charged with threatening to kill him over $400.
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FURNITURE king Franco Cozzo says he is living in fear of his only son who has been charged with threatening to kill him over $400.
Police have charged Lou Cozzo, 58, with threatening to kill his dad after the 81-year-old told them: “If I die tonight, you’ll know who killed me.”
Franco Cozzo reported the alleged threat to police after a phone call between the pair in April became heated when he refused to give his son $400.
“He called me a dog ... told me I’ll fix you up, I’ll kill you,” Mr Cozzo said in court.
“He called me all the names my mouth can’t say. I’m ashamed.”
Mr Cozzo, who charmed Melbourne with his iconic foreign speaking TV sales pitches in the 1980s, said he was fearful his son would carry out with the threat.
And he said he now wants nothing more to do with him.
Tensions boiled over as the pair faced off in the County Court, with Mr Cozzo breaking down in tears.
“If he was a son, Franco Cozzo would not be in court. He is not a son. He’s not my son,” Franco Cozzo said.
“I have nothing to do with him, I want nothing to do with him. He has no respect.
“I picked him up from jail, gave him a car, gave him money, gave him everything, and look where I am today,” Mr Cozzo said in court.”
Mr Cozzo, a father of 10, said his relationship with his only son had been turbulent for some time.
“I’m a glorious man, everyone loves me. Only he doesn’t like Franco Cozzo, because he’s jealous”.
Lou Cozzo told the court that his father had been abusive and controlling.
He shook his head as Franco Cozzo described fighting off two stabbing attempts by his son.
He said he stood over the family emotionally, physically and financially and admitted the pair regularly fought about money.
“He thinks its his money. It’s the company’s,” he said.
“The company I’ve worked for since the day I was born. It’s my curse.”
Lou Cozzo repeatedly denied making a threat to kill his father.
He will appear in court in October.