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Stephen Port trial: Murder accused went to prison for lying about death Stephen Port trial: Murder accused went to prison for lying about death
(35 minutes later)
A chef accused of murdering four young men by giving them drug overdoses went to prison for lying about his first victim's death, a court has heard.A chef accused of murdering four young men by giving them drug overdoses went to prison for lying about his first victim's death, a court has heard.
Stephen Port, 41, from east London, denies 29 offences, including four counts of murder and seven of rape.Stephen Port, 41, from east London, denies 29 offences, including four counts of murder and seven of rape.
They relate to alleged offences against 12 men over three-and-a-half years.They relate to alleged offences against 12 men over three-and-a-half years.
Mr Port was imprisoned in 2015 for eight months for perverting the course of justice over the death of Anthony Walgate, 23, the Old Bailey heard. Mr Port was jailed in March 2015 for perverting the course of justice over the death of Anthony Walgate, 23, the Old Bailey heard.
He is one of four men the defendant is accused of murdering by giving them overdoses of the party drug GHB/GBL. The others are Gabriel Kovari, 22, from Lewisham, south-east London, Daniel Whitworth, 21, from Gravesend, Kent, and Jack Taylor, 25, from Dagenham, east London.He is one of four men the defendant is accused of murdering by giving them overdoses of the party drug GHB/GBL. The others are Gabriel Kovari, 22, from Lewisham, south-east London, Daniel Whitworth, 21, from Gravesend, Kent, and Jack Taylor, 25, from Dagenham, east London.
The trial has heard that Mr Port used the internet to find his victims, whom he plied with the drug so he could have sex with them while they were unconscious.The trial has heard that Mr Port used the internet to find his victims, whom he plied with the drug so he could have sex with them while they were unconscious.
The jury was told that Mr Walgate, who is originally from Hull, was found dead outside the defendant's block of flats in Barking in the early hours of 19 June 2014.The jury was told that Mr Walgate, who is originally from Hull, was found dead outside the defendant's block of flats in Barking in the early hours of 19 June 2014.
The court heard that Mr Port called an ambulance claiming to have returned home from a nightshift to discover an unknown male lying unconscious by the front door to the communal entrance.The court heard that Mr Port called an ambulance claiming to have returned home from a nightshift to discover an unknown male lying unconscious by the front door to the communal entrance.
Prosecutor Jonathan Rees QC said officers investigating Mr Walgate's death later realised the defendant had hired Mr Walgate as a male escort and arrested Mr Port on 26 June 2014 on suspicion of perverting the course of justice.Prosecutor Jonathan Rees QC said officers investigating Mr Walgate's death later realised the defendant had hired Mr Walgate as a male escort and arrested Mr Port on 26 June 2014 on suspicion of perverting the course of justice.
The jury heard that in a police interview that day, Mr Port asked a detective: "Can I just say for the scenario - if it was an accident, and if he did have a fit in my place, is that still my fault?"The jury heard that in a police interview that day, Mr Port asked a detective: "Can I just say for the scenario - if it was an accident, and if he did have a fit in my place, is that still my fault?"
Initially, Mr Rees said, the defendant denied having met Mr Walgate but later admitted spending time in his flat with him, where Mr Port claimed Mr Walgate willingly took GHB/GBL.Initially, Mr Rees said, the defendant denied having met Mr Walgate but later admitted spending time in his flat with him, where Mr Port claimed Mr Walgate willingly took GHB/GBL.
Mr Rees said the defendant's account was that he had later found Mr Walgate "stiff" and "rigid" in bed and had panicked before placing him outside the flat and calling an ambulance.Mr Rees said the defendant's account was that he had later found Mr Walgate "stiff" and "rigid" in bed and had panicked before placing him outside the flat and calling an ambulance.
Mr Port pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice and was sentenced to eight months in prison in March 2015. He was released on an electronic tag in June 2015.Mr Port pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice and was sentenced to eight months in prison in March 2015. He was released on an electronic tag in June 2015.
The prosecution said it now alleged that "it was the defendant and not Anthony Walgate who added the liquid GBL into the drink that Mr Walgate consumed".The prosecution said it now alleged that "it was the defendant and not Anthony Walgate who added the liquid GBL into the drink that Mr Walgate consumed".
Mr Rees said it "was not a case of Mr Walgate unintentionally taking an overdose that killed him".Mr Rees said it "was not a case of Mr Walgate unintentionally taking an overdose that killed him".
"The considerable lengths to which the defendant went when attempting to cover up his association with Mr Walgate reveal the guilt he felt about what had happened," Mr Rees said."The considerable lengths to which the defendant went when attempting to cover up his association with Mr Walgate reveal the guilt he felt about what had happened," Mr Rees said.
The trial continues.The trial continues.