Serial killer’s ex-drug dealer murdered Bond film actor
SERIAL killer Stephen Port’s exdrug dealer has been jailed for at least 31 years for the “wicked and callous” murder of a former Bond film actor.
Gerald Matovu, 26, hooked up with Eric Michels, 54, via gay dating app Grindr in August last year.
He plied him with a fatal dose of GHB at his home in Bolton Road, Chessington, Surrey, and then made off with his bank card details and other belongings.
Mr Michels, who had an uncredited role in Skyfall, was found dead in bed by his 14-year-old daughter.
He was one of 12 men targeted by Matovu and his lover, Brandon Dunbar, 24, over a 19-month period, jurors heard.
Following an Old Bailey trial, Matovu was found guilty of businessman Mr Michels’ murder and 38 other offences, while Dunbar was convicted of 23 offences.
Jurors were not told about Matovu’s past connection with former chef Port, 44, from Barking, east London,
who had also targeted victims through Grindr and killed four of them with GHB overdoses.
Matovu was jailed for life with a minimum term of 31 years by Judge Anne Molyneux QC.
Co-defendant Dunbar was sentenced to 18 years in jail with five on extended licence for his role in the “calculated” scheme to drug and steal from men they met through Grindr.
The judge told the pair: “All were victims of your total lack of respect and callous behaviour. You calculated they would be too embarrassed to report the full extent of what happened to them.”
She told Matovu: “You had already rendered five men unconscious using G(HB). You were an experienced poisoner and were aware of the dangers of the drug.
“You are a predator.” Mitigating, Louise Sweet QC said Matovu was “truly sorry” for the death of Mr Michels and wished to “turn the clock back”.
Matovu had a troubled upbringing and had sought help with gender realignment, having identified as female since the age of eight, the court heard.
Matovu, of Southwark, south London, was convicted of six counts of administering a noxious substance, seven thefts, six counts of having articles for fraud, murder, assault by penetration, assault occasioning actual bodily harm and possessing GBL drugs.
Dunbar, of Forest Gate, east London, was found guilty of three counts of administering a noxious substance, five thefts, six counts of having articles for fraud, two frauds, assault by penetration, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, and dishonestly retaining wrongful credit.
In 2016, Port was handed a wholelife term for raping and murdering four young men and dumping their bodies near his home in Barking between 2014 and 2015.
Following Port’s trial, Matovu pleaded guilty to supplying mephedrone and GHB and offering to supply GHB, but denied knowing what Port planned to do with it.