The man who murdered a police officer and then disposed of the body by horrifying means is found guilty of his murder and will be sentenced next month.
A man who killed a serving police officer he met on Grindr has been found guilty of his murder and disposing of his body by dissolving it in acid and other horrific means will be sentenced next month.
Stefano Brizzi, 50, went to great lengths to dispose of 59-year-old Gordon Semple, by dismembering him and getting rid of him in a manner which “amounts to cannibalism”. Police investigating Semple’s death also revealed that they found “a number of bottles of chemicals scattered over the hallway floor and in the bathroom,” when they arrived at Brizzi’s address.
On Friday, 1 April, Gordon Semple, who dedicated 30 years of his working life to the police, was on duty and had been at a meeting in London Bridge. Phone evidence has shown that at just after 14:00hrs that day he used the dating app Grindr to arrange to meet Brizzi for sex at his south London flat.
That afternoon Brizzi strangled Gordon Semple to death and over the following week set about systematically disposing of his body in a bid to either avoid being caught or ensuring that Gordon could never be identified.
In a statement released to the press Detective Chief Superintendent Peter Ayling said,
“Fuelled by drugs, Stefano Brizzi murdered Gordon and then set about systemically disposing of his body, the detail of which is quite frankly distressing to read and hear.
“The investigation has evidenced the sickening lengths that he went to dismember Gordon and dispose of his remains, not just in the immediate aftermath of the murder but over the days that followed, and amounts to cannibalism.
“Brizzi clearly and coldly laid a false trail by contacting Gordon on Grindr five days after he himself had murdered him and weaving a fictious account of what took place that afternoon.
“Brizzi was unaware that Gordon was a police officer and the investigation has proved that the two men had never met before. Only Brizzi will know the reasons why that day he became a killer.”
SHOCKING DETAILS
Detective Chief Superintendent Peter Ayling continued,
“The details of Gordon’s murder have shocked and traumatised his partner, family, friends and colleagues.
“The responding officers and all those involved in the investigation into Gordon’s death have been affected by it, made all the worse by knowing he was a colleague. It is a testimony to their professionalism that Brizzi has been convicted.
“Sadly, it is clear from the investigation that Gordon, a man who had dedicated the last three decades of his life to policing London, was behaving on duty in a way that no police officer should. Gordon held a position of trust, and he broke that trust.
“However, nothing should distract from the actions of Stefano Brizzi and the blame for Gordon’s death lies firmly with this man. A killer whose cold calculated actions are so grotesque they are beyond comprehension. Nothing will bring Gordon back, but I hope that the verdict will help all those who loved and cared for him; who considered him a friend and who worked alongside him to come to terms with how they feel and start to move on.”
GRINDR
The investigation by the Met’s Homicide and Major Crime Command established that both Gordon and Brizzi routinely used Grindr to meet like-minded men for sex and drug use.
Over the 24 hours prior to Gordon’s murder, Brizzi was using Grindr to chat to men and invite them to his flat, his messages show that he was getting increasingly frustrated during this time as people failed to show up. He had been taking drugs and had been awake all night.
Two hours after Gordon had arrived at the flat he continued to use Grindr to invite other men to join them whilst Brizzi’s own messages clearly showed he was becoming less interested in what was happening.
The last message that Gordon sent that day was at 19:04hrs. Only 20 minutes later a call to Gordon’s mobile went unanswered – Police believe by then he was dead.
In evidence, the prosecution outlined that Brizzi’s motive was unclear, but he told one of the responding officers that despite not knowing him he simply did not like Gordon.
DEVASTATED FAMILY
A statement on behalf of the family of Gordon Semple said,
“Gordon was a loyal and much loved long term partner, brother, brother in law, uncle, cousin and friend to all.
“We were devastated when the news broke of Gordon’s murder and the circumstances which are still incredibly hard to deal with. It is still insurmountably upsetting.
“At Gordon’s funeral we met many of his friends and work colleagues – we were proud to hear how fondly they thought of Gordon.
“Gordon will be sadly missed by our family. Gordon we miss you so much, may you rest in peace.”
