This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/oct/25/stefano-brizzi-accused-killing-pc-gordon-semple

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Man accused of killing PC thought he was 'getting away with it' Man accused of killing PC thought he was 'getting away with it'
(about 4 hours later)
An alleged sadomasochist killer told police he thought he was “getting away with it” when he dismembered and disposed of a police officer’s body, a court has heard.An alleged sadomasochist killer told police he thought he was “getting away with it” when he dismembered and disposed of a police officer’s body, a court has heard.
Jurors watched CCTV footage of Stefano Brizzi talking to officers at Lewisham police station in south-east London after his arrest on 7 April.Jurors watched CCTV footage of Stefano Brizzi talking to officers at Lewisham police station in south-east London after his arrest on 7 April.
Six days earlier, the 50-year-old Italian allegedly strangled PC Gordon Semple, 59, after arranging to meet him at his flat in south London via the dating app Grindr.Six days earlier, the 50-year-old Italian allegedly strangled PC Gordon Semple, 59, after arranging to meet him at his flat in south London via the dating app Grindr.
Semple was trying to dissolve dismembered body parts in an acid bath when police visited his property to investigate complaints of a putrid smell, the Old Bailey trial heard on Tuesday. Brizzi was trying to dissolve dismembered body parts in an acid bath when police visited his property to investigate complaints of a putrid smell, the Old Bailey trial heard on Tuesday.
As the CCTV video was being played, Brizzi wept in the dock and held his head in his hands.As the CCTV video was being played, Brizzi wept in the dock and held his head in his hands.
Asked by Judge Nicholas Hilliard QC if he needed a break, the defendant said: “I’m sorry. That’s all. I’m sorry. Carry on, it’s OK. I don’t want to hold you up. It’s hard, you understand – enormous pressure.”Asked by Judge Nicholas Hilliard QC if he needed a break, the defendant said: “I’m sorry. That’s all. I’m sorry. Carry on, it’s OK. I don’t want to hold you up. It’s hard, you understand – enormous pressure.”
In the video, Brizzi, who was wearing dark sunglasses, was asked by the custody sergeant if he had taken any drugs in the past 24 hours. The court heard him reply: “Yes, I took crystal meth yesterday when I was thinking I should get rid of the corpse … Four days have passed by and nobody had seen or said anything. I thought I was getting away with it. I had nearly finished but I took a shot, I was going to finish the job today.”In the video, Brizzi, who was wearing dark sunglasses, was asked by the custody sergeant if he had taken any drugs in the past 24 hours. The court heard him reply: “Yes, I took crystal meth yesterday when I was thinking I should get rid of the corpse … Four days have passed by and nobody had seen or said anything. I thought I was getting away with it. I had nearly finished but I took a shot, I was going to finish the job today.”
Brizzi told officers he started using crystal meth in 2013 and had seen a psychiatrist and psychologist who said he was “just fine”, the court heard.Brizzi told officers he started using crystal meth in 2013 and had seen a psychiatrist and psychologist who said he was “just fine”, the court heard.
The former Morgan Stanley developer told police: “I saw them in 2015 after I lost my job because I had a job but wasn’t able to keep the job because I was constantly high on drugs. The problem with that is that the psychologist says crystal meth causes psychosis. I was raised a Catholic, being gay was evil. And the devil. So I’ve been into Satan.”The former Morgan Stanley developer told police: “I saw them in 2015 after I lost my job because I had a job but wasn’t able to keep the job because I was constantly high on drugs. The problem with that is that the psychologist says crystal meth causes psychosis. I was raised a Catholic, being gay was evil. And the devil. So I’ve been into Satan.”
The court heard that Brizzi said he was on crystal meth when a “very clear voice said you must kill, you must kill, you must kill”. After being reminded of his legal rights, Brizzi said it was the “truth” and could be used as evidence.The court heard that Brizzi said he was on crystal meth when a “very clear voice said you must kill, you must kill, you must kill”. After being reminded of his legal rights, Brizzi said it was the “truth” and could be used as evidence.
He said: “I’ve always been against murder. I was out of my mind, because I must have been out of my mind. I am just mentioning this simply because the murder was dictated to me while I was high on drugs.”He said: “I’ve always been against murder. I was out of my mind, because I must have been out of my mind. I am just mentioning this simply because the murder was dictated to me while I was high on drugs.”
Brizzi denies murder but has admitted obstructing a coroner by disposing of Semple’s body.Brizzi denies murder but has admitted obstructing a coroner by disposing of Semple’s body.