Verdict due in trial of man accused of murdering and dismembering gay police officer
The jury hearing the trial of Stefano Brizzi, the man accused of murdering a police officer he met on Grindr, has retired to consider its verdict.
The remains of PC Gordon Semple, 59, were found after a neighbour reported a “smell of death” coming from Brizzi’s flat.
Brizzi, 49, is alleged to have strangled Semple during a chemsex session before dismembering him and attempting to dissolve his body parts in a bath full of acid.
The Italian IT developer has pleaded not guilty to a charge of murder, with the defence claiming the PC died in “a sex game gone wrong”.
Mr Brizzi told jurors he panicked upon discovering the dead man was a member of the police.
He has already admitted to obstructing a coroner.
Gordon Semple went missing on April 1 after being last seen close to London Bridge.
His partner, Gary Meeks, reported him missing later that day.
Originally from Inverness, Semple worked at Bank of Scotland before joining the Metropolitan Police, where he had worked for 30 years.
