Above, a Metropolitan police officer patrols the streets of Westminster on March 2, 2004, in London.
#GRINDR MURDERS SERIAL#
The Metropolitan Police Service formally apologized for "systemic failings" in their handling of Grindr serial killer Stephen Port's case six years after his conviction.
Savell added that since 2016, the police department has been working to improve its processes and widen its knowledge over a range of issues associated with the murders.īetween June 2014 and September 2015, Port killed four men that he met on queer dating apps like Grindr and lured them back to his apartment where he administered fatal quantities of GHB-a date rape drug-and sexually assaulted them. (Daniel) Whitworth's partner for how we initially responded to the deaths, and I would like to apologize again." "At the time of Port's conviction, we apologized to the victims' families and Mr. "It is extremely important to us that members of the LGBT+ communities trust the police and feel confident they are being provided with the best possible service," Savell said. Port was given a whole-life order, or life sentence, for the murders of four men in London who he met through a gay hookup app in 2016, but a long-awaited inquest hearing into how police responded to the deaths and if prejudice was involved is now underway.Ĭommander Jon Savell of the Metropolitan Police issued a statement acknowledging that the police failed in the case by recording the men's deaths as drug overdoses rather than murders, prolonging Port's capture. The long-awaited inquest into the deaths is examining whether police made mistakes in their investigation which could have cost lives by failing to stop Port sooner.The Metropolitan Police Service formally apologized for "systemic failings" in their handling of Grindr serial killer Stephen Port's case five years after his conviction. Port, now 46, was found guilty at the Old Bailey in 2016 of the four murders and sentenced to a whole life order. The final victim, Jack Taylor, 25, was found on the other side of the stone wall on September 14 2015. Port was later convicted of lying to police about the circumstances of Mr Walgate’s death.įellow victims Gabriel Kovari, 22, and Daniel Whitworth, 21, were found dead by the same dog walker on August 28 and September 20 2014, respectively, in a corner of the walled cemetery near Port’s address. He also admitted he had picked him up, dragged him away and propped him up against the wall, jurors were told.
In his 999 call, Port claimed not to know what happened to Mr Walgate but later told police they met for a sexual relationship, inquest jurors heard. The alarm was first raised by Port himself, who initially said he had discovered Mr Walgate making a “gurgling” sound. The inquest previously heard that a paramedic and police officers all thought Mr Walgate’s death was suspicious, but were later contradicted by a forensic medical examiner. “But if he was quite unwell with low pulse, low blood pressure, if he was in the process of dying, it’s possible they would have formed.” He said bruising found on Mr Walgate’s body was consistent with him being moved while still alive – even if unconscious or near-death.ĭr Biedrzycki said: “I don’t think he was dead when those bruises occurred. “I imagine if there was a body at the entrance to the block of flats on Wednesday morning, someone might have seen it.” “The first question is whether in 2014 you (Dr Biedrzycki) were asked to provide an opinion as to when within that time of one-and-a-half days Anthony may have died, and second whether you can have a view now?”ĭr Biedrzycki replied: “I don’t think pathology is helpful. “We know he met Stephen Port, his body was found in the morning of Thursday June 19.
He ruled out death by “natural causes” following his first post-mortem examination.Īndrew O’Connor QC, counsel to the coroner, said: “The evidence will be that Anthony was alive on Tuesday June 17 and was in touch with some friends and went to Barking that evening. It was confirmed by Home Office pathologist Dr Olaf Biedrzycki on Tuesday that Mr Walgate, who worked as an escort, died after being poisoned with excessive quantities of the drug GHB.
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