Man who disposed of PC’s body thought he was ‘getting away with it’
AN alleged sadomasochist killer told police he thought he was “getting away with it” when he cut up and disposed of a dead Scots police officer, a court has heard.
Jurors watched CCTV footage of Stefano Brizzi talking to officers at Lewisham police station following his arrest on April 7.
Six days earlier, the 50-year-old Italian allegedly strangled PC Gordon Semple, 59, after arranging a sex session at his flat in south London via gay dating app Grindr.
He was trying to dissolve dismembered body parts in an acid bath when police called round to investigate complaints of a putrid smell, the Old Bailey trial heard.
As the CCTV video was being played, Mr Brizzi broke down in the dock and sobbed with his head in his hands.
Asked by Judge Nicholas Hilliard QC if he needed a break, the defendant said: “I’m sorry. That’s all. Carry on, it’s OK.”
In the video, Mr Brizzi, who was wearing dark sunglasses, was asked by the custody sergeant if he had taken any drugs in the last 24 hours.
He replied: “Yes, I took crystal meth yesterday when I was thinking I should get rid of the corpse...
“Four days have passed by and nobody had seen or said anything. I thought I was getting away with it.
“I had nearly finished but I took a shot, I was going to finish the job today.”
“As you can see this man was a very big man and all I have left is two buckets.”
Earlier, Mr Brizzi had confirmed his personal details and told officers he had HIV and hepatitis C plus “cuts to my hands because of cutting the corpse”.
He told officers he started using crystal meth in 2013 and had seen a psychiatrist and psychologist who said he was “just fine”.
The former Morgan Stanley developer told police: “I saw them in 2015 after I lost my job ‘cause I had a job but wasn’t able to keep [it] because I was constantly high on drugs.”
He went on: “The problem with that is that the psychologist says crystal meth causes psychosis.
“I was raised a Catholic, being gay was evil. And the devil. So I’ve been into Satan.”
The defendant said he had never tried to kill himself but added: “I have often prayed to get the final overdose and on Thursday that was the biggest overdose of my life.”
Mr Brizzi said he was on crystal meth when a “very clear voice said you must kill, you must kill”.
After being reminded of his legal rights, Mr Brizzi said it was the “truth” and could be used as evidence. He went on: “I have always been against murder. I was out of my mind, because I must have been out of my mind.
“I am just mentioning this simply because the murder was dictated to me while I was high on drugs.”
He told police he was concerned that he was expecting people to come round “for sex” the following day.
He added: “Just one thing, my bath tub has been unusable for days. “I would appreciate a shower.” Brizzi denies murder but has admitted obstructing a coroner by disposing of PC Semple’s body.
The trial continues.