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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/oct/20/social-worker-breaking-bad-dismembered-police-officer-gordon-semple-court-hears
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| Social worker 'obsessed with Breaking Bad dismembered police officer' | Social worker 'obsessed with Breaking Bad dismembered police officer' |
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| A crystal meth user obsessed with the TV drama Breaking Bad strangled a Metropolitan police officer after inviting him to his flat for a sex session and then attempted to destroy the evidence aping a method used in the show, a court has heard. | A crystal meth user obsessed with the TV drama Breaking Bad strangled a Metropolitan police officer after inviting him to his flat for a sex session and then attempted to destroy the evidence aping a method used in the show, a court has heard. |
| Stefano Brizzi, 50, is accused of the murder of PC Gordon Semple, whose body was found at the social worker’s flat in Southwark, London, on 7 April this year. | |
| He admits disposing of the 59-year-old’s body but denies murder, claiming the officer died by accident during a drug-fuelled sex game that went wrong. | He admits disposing of the 59-year-old’s body but denies murder, claiming the officer died by accident during a drug-fuelled sex game that went wrong. |
| Opening the prosecution case at the Old Bailey on Thursday, Crispin Aylett QC told the jury that Brizzi was a heavy user of crystal meth who sought help from a support group for users run by Alex Roberts. | Opening the prosecution case at the Old Bailey on Thursday, Crispin Aylett QC told the jury that Brizzi was a heavy user of crystal meth who sought help from a support group for users run by Alex Roberts. |
| “Mr Roberts ... says that Stefano Brizzi had been obsessed with the American television show Breaking Bad. In the series a chemistry teacher named Walter White starts producing crystal meth,” said Aylett. “At first this is done to pay for medical care but he soon descends into the criminal underworld. After poisoning a rival, White ends up dissolving the body in acid.” | “Mr Roberts ... says that Stefano Brizzi had been obsessed with the American television show Breaking Bad. In the series a chemistry teacher named Walter White starts producing crystal meth,” said Aylett. “At first this is done to pay for medical care but he soon descends into the criminal underworld. After poisoning a rival, White ends up dissolving the body in acid.” |
| Aylett, who warned the jury that the evidence called for “strong stomachs”, said officers were called to Brizzi’s flat on 7 April after a neighbour complained about the smell. There they found human remains in the bath, which was filled with acid, as well as in plastic buckets on the bathroom floor. | |
| “In dismembering Gordon Semple and disposing of some of the body parts, the defendant must have hoped, first, to avoid being caught and, if that failed, that it would be impossible to identify how Gordon Semple met his death,” said Aylett. | “In dismembering Gordon Semple and disposing of some of the body parts, the defendant must have hoped, first, to avoid being caught and, if that failed, that it would be impossible to identify how Gordon Semple met his death,” said Aylett. |
| The jury heard that Brizzi told the police officers who found the human remains at his flat: “I’ve tried to dissolve the body ... I’ve killed a police officer.” Aylett said Brizzi continued: “I killed him last week. I met him on Grindr and I killed him. Satan told me to.” | The jury heard that Brizzi told the police officers who found the human remains at his flat: “I’ve tried to dissolve the body ... I’ve killed a police officer.” Aylett said Brizzi continued: “I killed him last week. I met him on Grindr and I killed him. Satan told me to.” |
| The prosecutor said Brizzi, who wept loudly as the evidence against him was detailed, was now contending that Semple’s death was an accident. | The prosecutor said Brizzi, who wept loudly as the evidence against him was detailed, was now contending that Semple’s death was an accident. |
| The jury heard explicit details of extreme sexual practices favoured by Semple and the defendant, including domination and bondage, revealed by their profiles and messages they sent to various men on Grindr. Both men also used illegal drugs. | |
| Aylett said that Semple, who had served with the Metropolitan police for 30 years, was in a relationship but regularly met strangers for sexual encounters. | Aylett said that Semple, who had served with the Metropolitan police for 30 years, was in a relationship but regularly met strangers for sexual encounters. |
| On 1 April, when he was supposed to be on duty, Semple made contact with Brizzi, whose Grindr profile was Dom SE1 – indicating a liking for dominant activity and his postcode – and said he was “free now for (a) hot dirty sleazy session”. | |
| Over the next few hours, after the police officer arrived at the defendant’s flat, Semple and Brizzi used Grindr to invite other men to join them for a sex party where drugs would be available. | Over the next few hours, after the police officer arrived at the defendant’s flat, Semple and Brizzi used Grindr to invite other men to join them for a sex party where drugs would be available. |
| One man, identified in court only as CD, turned up shortly after 7pm but when he rang the entry buzzer was told by a voice over the intercom presumed to be Brizzi: “We are having a situation here. Someone fell ill but we’re taking care of it, so our party is cancelled.” | One man, identified in court only as CD, turned up shortly after 7pm but when he rang the entry buzzer was told by a voice over the intercom presumed to be Brizzi: “We are having a situation here. Someone fell ill but we’re taking care of it, so our party is cancelled.” |
| Brizzi later told police that when a man arrived at the flat: “I was right in the middle of strangling Gordon.” | Brizzi later told police that when a man arrived at the flat: “I was right in the middle of strangling Gordon.” |
| Semple last used Grindr shortly after 7pm and 20 minutes later when his partner tried to call him on his mobile there was no answer. Semple’s partner reported him missing that night when he failed to return home. | Semple last used Grindr shortly after 7pm and 20 minutes later when his partner tried to call him on his mobile there was no answer. Semple’s partner reported him missing that night when he failed to return home. |
| Over the next few days Brizzi’s neighbours became conscious of a nasty smell emanating from his flat. One of the neighbours knocked on his door to complain on 4 April but when the smell failed to go, called the police three days later. | Over the next few days Brizzi’s neighbours became conscious of a nasty smell emanating from his flat. One of the neighbours knocked on his door to complain on 4 April but when the smell failed to go, called the police three days later. |
| The case continues. |