Man accused of Semple murder appears in court
Stefano Brizzi, 49, is accused of the murder of the Inverness-born Police Officer
A man has appeared in court accused of murdering a Police Officer whose decomposed remains were found in a flat. The body of Inverness-born PC Gordon Semple, 59, was found in a property on the Peabody Estate a week after he went missing
The gruesome discovery was made after a neighbour alerted Scotland Yard to a "smell of death" coming from the flat in Southwark, south London.
Stefano Brizzi, 49, was arrested at the property, which was his flat, and appeared via videolink at London's Bromley Magistrates' Court.
Wearing a grey prison issue tracksuit, he appeared calm as he confirmed his name, age and address during the brief hearing.
Brizzi, who is bearded, told the court: "I'm an Italian citizen but a UK resident"
He sat next to a lawyer at a table in Lewisham Police Station and at times leaned forward in his seat as he listened to the proceedings.
Brizzi, of Peabody Estate, Southwark Street, is charged with murdering PC Semple, who had served 30 years with the Metropolitan Police, at his flat on a day between April 1st and April 7th.
At one point he raised his hand to interject in proceedings to ask about his legal aid.
No indication of plea was given and the chairwoman of the bench Sue Polydorou remanded him in custody to appear at the Old Bailey on April 13th.