Accused says death a result of dangerous sex game

AN ALLEGED sadomasochist accused of murdering a policeman has told a court that the officer died while they were playing “a very dangerous game”.

Stefano Brizzi, 50, described how PC Gordon Semple, 59, had been enjoying sex at the Italian’s home in south London on April 1, but then stopped breathing.

Mr Brizzi said he removed PC Semple’s mask and “realised that he was completely unresponsive”. He thought about calling an ambulance, but did not do so because he thought PC Semple may have a “condition” such as asthma.

The Italian denies murdering the officer, but has admitted obstructing a coroner by disposing of the body.

Pathologist Dr Ashley Fegan-Earl told the court that it was “possible” that PC Semple had died from a heart attack, rather than strangulation.

The pathologist was asked whether PC Semple’s history of having high cholesterol and being overweight could have caused cardiac arrest. But Dr Benjamin Swift told jurors there was evidence that PC Semple had been strangled.

The trial previously heard that Mr Brizzi was trying to dissolve PC Semple’s dismembered body parts in an acid bath when police called round to his home to investigate complaints of a smell.

Mr Brizzi was arrested on April 7 and told police he thought he was “getting away with it” when he cut up and disposed of the body, the court has been told.