Police appeal for help from gay community in murder investigation
Police have appealed for help from the gay community, after a man was arrested and charged with four counts of murder.
40-year-old Stephen Port, of Barking, east London was charged this week with the alleged murders of Anthony Walgate, Gabriel Kovari, Daniel Whitworth, and Jack Taylor.
Port allegedly used GHB to poison a number of victims. The four bodies were found in and around the St Margaret’s Churchyard, Barking, between June 2014 and September 2015.
The Metropolitan Police Service, which confirmed it will refer itself to the Independent Police Complaints Commission after allegations it initially failed to spot a link between the deaths, has now appealed for help from the gay community.
In a statement to PinkNews, the Met confirmed: “The Homicide and Major Crime Command launched an investigation following the deaths in Barking of Anthony Walgate, 23, from Barnet on 19 June 2014; Gabriel Kovari, 22, from Lewisham on 28 August 2014; Daniel Whitworth, 21, from Gravesend on 20 September 2014 and Jack Taylor, 21, from Dagenham, on 14 September 2015.”
Detective Chief Inspector Tim Duffield, said: “We are keen to trace anyone who may have information in connection with these incidents.
“I would encourage anyone with information to come forward, no matter how insignificant you may think it is.
“If you have any reservations about speaking to the police, please rest assured that your call will be treated in the strictest confidence.”
Anyone with information can contact the Met’s incident room on 020 8358 0400, or you can anonymously contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
If you don’t wish to speak to the police, you can contact hate crime charity Galop via their website or on 020 7704 2040.
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