Italian man charged with murder of PC Gordon Semple appears in court via video link
AN Italian man charged with murdering a gay police officer has appeared in court via video link.
Stefano Brizzi (left) appeared in court via video link over the murder of PC Gordon Semple (right)
Stefano Brizzi, 49, was arrested after the remains of PC Gordon Semple were found in his flat.
Wearing a grey tracksuit, Brizzi confirmed his name, age and address during the brief hearing at Bromley Magistrates Court, south London.
Brizzi told the court: "I'm an Italian citizen but a UK resident."
PC Gordon Semple's remains were found in Brizzi's flat in Southwark
The body of PC Semple, 59, was found at Brizzi's flat in Southwark, south London, last Thursday.
I'm an Italian citizen but a UK resident
The gruesome discovery came a week after the officer was reported missing.
Brizzi is charged with murdering PC Semple at his flat on a day between April 1 and April 7.
The bearded defendant sat next to a lawyer at a table in Lewisham Police Station, south London, during the video link hearing.
The gruesome discovery came a week after the officer was reported missing
Brizzi appeared in court via video link from Lewisham police station
At one point, he raised his hand to ask about his legal aid.
Chairwoman of the bench Sue Polydorou remanded him in custody to appear at the Old Bailey on Wednesday.
PC Semple was originally from Inverness in Scotland and had been with the Metropolitan Police for 30 years.