Battersea Irish Dancer Murder Trial Delayed Due to Pandemic


Judge rules case too complex to be heard in current circumstances

Woman Arrested in Connection with Battersea Grindr Murder
Adrian Murphy

May 13, 2020

The trial of two people accused of murdering a man in Battersea last year has been postponed due to the Covid-19 outbreak.

At a pre-trial hearing at the Old Bailey for 25-year-old Joel Osei, of no fixed abode and 18-year-old Diana Cristea of Mill Hill Barnet, it was determined by Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb that the intended start date of next Monday was not feasible.

Some trials with juries will be held at the court from next week but this case was judged to be too complex.

Mr Osei and Ms Cristea are accused of poisoning 43-year-old Irish dancer Adrian Murphy at his flat on Lombard Road on 4 June 2019 with a drug called scopolamine which is also known as Devil’s Breath. They also face other charges including theft and the poisoning of a 40-year-old man in Walthamstow five days before the death of Mr Murphy. The victim was found unconscious by police. Although he was hospitalised he was later discharged.

Police investigating believe the two victims had been targeted through Grindr, a gay dating app. They have issued an appeal for any other men who believe they have been victims of the same scheme.

The two accused have denied the charges against them.