A pathologist told a murder trial that it was “possible” that a north policeman had died from a heart attack, rather than being strangled – but because his heart had never been found, it could not be examined.
Dr Ashley Fegan-Earl was giving evidence in the Old Bailey trial of Stefano Brizzi, accused of the murder of Constable Gordon Semple, originally from Inverness.
Defence counsel Sallie Bennett-Jenkins QC asked the pathologist whether constable Semple’s history of having high cholesterol and being overweight could have caused him to suffer a cardiac arrest.
“Of course the heart was not present to be examined but based on our knowledge of heart disease … yes, I think that it is possible.”
He added that it was a “plausible” cause of death but stressed that “no-one was able to examine the heart”.
The pathologist for the prosecution gave evidence earlier this week and said that, in the absence of the internal organs, he had recorded the cause of death as “unascertained” because Constable Semple’s body had been dismembered and parts were never recovered.
But Dr Benjamin Swift told jurors there was evidence that Constable Semple had been strangled as he had found a fracture to a tiny horseshoe-shaped bone in his neck as well as bruising. Earlier yesterday, 50-year-old Brizzi told the court that the officer died while they were playing “a very dangerous game”.
Stefano Brizzi, 50, described how Constable Gordon Semple, 59, had been enjoying the sex session at the Italian’s home in south London on April 1 but then stopped breathing.
Brizzi said Constable Semple was wearing a collar and a mask while he held a leash which he tightened at the policeman’s request.
Standing in the witness box, Brizzi said he was “pulling the leash and counting until 30. I was following his instructions.”
Brizzi – who broke down in tears several times as he gave evidence – said he then removed Constable Semple’s mask and “realised that he was completely unresponsive and I started to panic”.
“Unfortunately I couldn’t see any response. I also checked his pulse to see if I could feel any pulse. I realised that we had been playing a very dangerous game.”
Brizzi thought about calling an ambulance but did not do so because he thought Constable Semple may have a “condition” such as asthma.
He said he checked Constable Semple’s pocket to see if he had an inhaler but instead found his police badge. “I was absolutely petrified,” Brizzi said.
The Italian denies murdering the officer but has admitted obstructing a coroner by disposing of the body.
The trial continues.
