Man accused of murdering police officer Gordon Semple in court
The Italian-born social worker accused of strangling and dismembering a police officer he met through gay dating website Grindr made another court appearance today.
Jun 29, 2016
By Nick Hudson
The Italian-born social worker accused of strangling and dismembering a police officer he met through gay dating website Grindr made another court appearance today.
Stefano Brizzi, 50, allegedly murdered 59-year-old Police Constable Gordon Semple at his London flat some time between April 1 and April 7.
PC Semple, who had been with the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) for 30 years, went missing on Friday, April 1 after a meeting at London`s Shangri-La hotel in The Shard.
The officer, originally a bank worker from Inverness in Scotland, was last seen on CCTV cameras in nearby Great Guildford Street nearly three hours later.
He was reported missing by his partner, Gary Meeks, when he failed to return home to Greenhithe in Kent that evening.
His remains were discovered at Mr Brizzis flat on the Peabody Estate in Southwark Street six days later, after a neighbour alerted the MPS to a “smell of death”.
Recorder of London, Nicholas Hilliard QC, has already set a provisional date for Brizzi to face trial on October 18.
The defendant appeared before the Old Bailey judge by video link from top-security Belmarsh prison.
Wearing sunglasses and a white and beige tracksuit, he spoke only to confirm his name.
Prosecutor Crispin Aylett QC asked for the plea hearing to be put back to September 9.
Judge Hilliard agreed the new timetable and remanded Mr Brizzi in custody until the next hearing.