The parents of a man murdered by serial killer Stephen Port have criticised the police for conducting a “shoddy” investigation into their son’s death during an inquest into the Met’s investigation of the murders.
Daniel Whitworth, 21, was the third victim of Stephen Port, a serial killer who administered men with a fatal dose of the date rape drug GHB.
Whitworth’s body was found in a churchyard in Barking, near where Port lived, and metres from where another victim of port, Gabriel Kovari, had been found dead in the weeks prior.
A fake suicide note was planted near the body, falsely suggesting Mr Whitworth had murdered Mr Kovani before taking his own life.
Speaking to the inquest, Mr Whitworth’s father Adam denied that he had confirmed the suicide note had been written by his son, despite one police officer claiming he had. Adam Whitworth stated he feels “bitter” that police “took advantage” of his and his partner’s “nice personalities.”
Mrs Amanda Whitworth, Adam Whitworth’s partner, stated police dismissed her and her husband’s concerns about the circumstances of her step-sons death.
Assumptions made of the gay community
Mrs Whitworth told the inquest she believes that the Met Police believes victims were “treated the way they were because of the circles they moved in” and claimed that police described GHS as a “drug used in gay circles.” Mrs Whitworth adds that she was told to ask her deceased stepson’s boyfriend about GHB because “they know about this stuff”, and maintains that “the police made an assumption about the gay community.”
Last month, the inquest heard that Detective Sgt Martin O’Donnell who investigated the case made “terrible mistakes”. The detective failed to search the national police database for information on Port, and therefore did not learn previous allegations of drug rape made against Port.
The inquest will consider whether the lives of some victims could have been saved had the Met conducted the investigation differently.
Port, 46, was served a whole-life order in 2016 for the murders of Anthony Walgate, Gabriel Kovari, Daniel Whitworth, and Jack Taylor.
Port, 46, was served a whole-life order in 2016 for the murders of Anthony Walgate, Gabriel Kovari, Daniel Whitworth, and Jack Taylor.
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HeadlineFamily of Stephen Port’s youngest victim criticise ‘shoddy’ investigation
Short HeadlineVictim of serial killer’s family criticise ‘shoddy police probe’
StandfirstDaniel Whitworth’s family have told an inquest their concerns were dismissed by police.
The parents of a man murdered by serial killer Stephen Port have criticised the police for conducting a “shoddy” investigation into their son’s death during an inquest into the Met’s investigation of the murders.
Daniel Whitworth, 21, was the third victim of Stephen Port, a serial killer who administered men with a fatal dose of the date rape drug GHB.
Whitworth’s body was found in a churchyard in Barking, near where Port lived, and metres from where another victim of port, Gabriel Kovari, had been found dead in the weeks prior.
A fake suicide note was planted near the body, falsely suggesting Mr Whitworth had murdered Mr Kovani before taking his own life.
Speaking to the inquest, Mr Whitworth’s father Adam denied that he had confirmed the suicide note had been written by his son, despite one police officer claiming he had. Adam Whitworth stated he feels “bitter” that police “took advantage” of his and his partner’s “nice personalities.”
Mrs Amanda Whitworth, Adam Whitworth’s partner, stated police dismissed her and her husband’s concerns about the circumstances of her step-sons death.
Assumptions made of the gay community
Mrs Whitworth told the inquest she believes that the Met Police believes victims were “treated the way they were because of the circles they moved in” and claimed that police described GHS as a “drug used in gay circles.” Mrs Whitworth adds that she was told to ask her deceased stepson’s boyfriend about GHB because “they know about this stuff”, and maintains that “the police made an assumption about the gay community.”
Last month, the inquest heard that Detective Sgt Martin O’Donnell who investigated the case made “terrible mistakes”. The detective failed to search the national police database for information on Port, and therefore did not learn previous allegations of drug rape made against Port.
The inquest will consider whether the lives of some victims could have been saved had the Met conducted the investigation differently.
Port, 46, was served a whole-life order in 2016 for the murders of Anthony Walgate, Gabriel Kovari, Daniel Whitworth, and Jack Taylor.
Port, 46, was served a whole-life order in 2016 for the murders of Anthony Walgate, Gabriel Kovari, Daniel Whitworth, and Jack Taylor.
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