Man charged with murder of four men he ‘met on gay dating sites’
A man has been charged with four counts of murder – after allegedly poisoning men he met on gay websites, and dumping their bodies in a churchyard.
40-year-old Stephen Port, of Barking, east London was charged in relation to the four deaths – and was accused of using GHB to poison a number of victims.
The four bodies were found in and around the St Margaret’s Churchyard, between June 2014 and September 2015.
Port was arrested on Thursday, in connection with the deaths of Anthony Walgate, Gabriel Kovari, Daniel Whitworth, and Jack Taylor.
He has been charged with four counts of murder and four counts of administering a poison with intent to endanger life or inflict grievous bodily harm.
Port, a special needs teacher, appeared in Barkingside Magistrates’ Court today, but spoke only to confirm his name.
Mr Whitworth and Mr Kovari are believed to have known one another, and both bodies were found within a month at St Margaret’s Church, Barking.
Their deaths came after the unexplained death of fashion designer Anthony Walgate in June last year – who was found dead in Cooke Street, less than half a mile away.
Jack Taylor was found dead a year on from the first three deaths – with his body found near to the churchyard last month.
Mr Kovari’s flatmate John Pape told the inquest that he had been meeting men through hook-up app Grindr, and had been seen with Mr Whitworth.
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