21 March 2023 , 18:10
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Two wives of a late ice-cream king are locked in a frosty High Court battle over his £4.75million fortune.
Ernesto “Ernie” Colicci died of Covid in 2021, at the age of 66, having spent nearly 40 years carving out a London ice-cream empire alongside his first wife, Josephine Colicci.
The couple’s two children, Rob Colicci, 39, and Rosanna Colicci, 36, both played roles in the booming family enterprise.
But Ernie and Josephine divorced in 2011, and in 2014 he married his second wife, Russian-born Nora Grinberg.
When Ernie died, his April 2017 will left his £4.75m fortune to Mrs Grinberg and their infant daughter, penning a letter telling his children from his first marriage that he had given them enough money during his lifetime.
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Now Mrs Colicci is suing her ex-husband’s widow, who the court heard she referred to as his “Russian maid”, arguing his £1.6m stake in the ice-cream business should rightfully go to her children, Rob and Rosanna.
Ernie's daughter Rosanna Colicci (Champion News)
Ernie's son Rob Colicci and ex-wife Josephine Colicci (Champion News)The siblings each already own a 10% stake in the family company and Rob is a director, married to ex-Hollyoaks actress Scarlett Bowman, with Mrs Colicci owning the remaining 40%.
But Mrs Colicci, 59, insists that her ex-husband’s 40% stake in the family business, ECSI Ltd, was ring-fenced for their children under an agreement they drew up together in 2016.
She is suing for a judge’s declaration that Mrs Grinberg holds the shares on trust for Rob and Rosanna.
Mrs Colicci told the court: “We went from selling ice cream out the back of a van to the business we have today through a lot of hard work.”
Angela Walsh, for Mrs Grinberg, argued the siblings should pay a fair price for the shares, adding her client will face financial hardship if she loses her late husband’s stake in the company for nothing.
Ernie Colicci's widow Nora Grinberg (Champion News)The court heard Mr Colicci left behind a “letter of wishes” making clear he was writing Rob and Rosanna out of his will so he could provide for Ms Grinberg, who gave up a lucrative business role to marry him and raise a family.
In his letter, he wrote: “I love Roberto and Rosanna very much and my will is no reflection on how I feel about them.
“I have provided both of them with significant financial funds in their lifetimes, and I have set them up with properties, rental properties, and provided them with careers.
“They are independent adults now with financial security. I consider this more than sufficient financial provision for Roberto and Rosanna.”
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The judge is expected to deliver his ruling at a later date.