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Jurors investigating deaths of four gay men at hands of Grindr serial killer Stephen Port should be quizzed on their attitudes to homosexuality, victims' families say

Jurors could be screened for their 'beliefs or moral attitudes' towards homosexuality before they are selected for the inquest into the deaths of four gay men at the hands of serial killer Stephen Port, a court has heard. 

Port, 45, was handed a whole life sentence after he was convicted of drugging, raping and murdering four men in east London after meeting them on the dating site Grindr. 

Victims Anthony Walgate, 23, Gabriel Kovari, 22, Daniel Whitworth and Jack Taylor, 25, were killed by Port between June 2014 and September 2015. 

Fresh jury inquests into all four victims are now expected to focus on possible failings by police after the victims' families questioned why Port was not stopped sooner. 

Serial killer Stephen Port, now aged 45, was handed a whole life sentence after he was convicted of drugging, raping and murdering four men in east London

Serial killer Stephen Port, now aged 45, was handed a whole life sentence after he was convicted of drugging, raping and murdering four men in east London 

At a pre-inquest review at the Old Bailey on Thursday, jury questions were discussed and whether they should include one on 'beliefs or moral attitudes'.   

Paul Clark, for the victims' families, cited the Equalities Act and said such a question was relevant in how jurors would treat one of the 'core issues', whether there were 'unjustified differences' in the way gay people were treated by police.

Peter Skelton QC, for the Metropolitan Police, said there was no general precedent for such a question to be put.

Andrew O'Connor, QC, advised coroner Sarah Munro QC to consider the matter again at a further pre-inquest hearing likely to take place on November 20.

He said: 'It's an important and sensitive issue and we must strive to make the right decision.'

Mr O'Connor, counsel for the coroner, said the full inquest on January 7 was being moved from the Old Bailey to Barking Town Hall.

Explaining the decision, he said: 'The view was taken, with the number of people now certainly involved in these hearings, the Old Bailey simply would not be able to provide sufficient accommodation.. that in part being due to the fact that such court space as there is available at the Old Bailey is required for urgent custody cases to be tried.

'For that reason a number of other venues were explored.

'Barking Town Hall has accommodation available and suitable so for that reason, my lady has taken a provisional decision that is the venue where the inquest will be heard.

Anthony Walgate was one of Stephen Port's victimsSlovakian national Gabriel Kovari from Lewisham was also killed by Port

Anthony Walgate and Gabriel Kovari from Lewisham were  killed by Port after meeting him on a dating site

Daniel WhitworthJack Taylor

Port also killed Daniel Whitworth and Jack Taylor before he was caught by police

'Of course we would have wished these hearings to take place at the Old Bailey.

'These are times we all have to make compromises.

'We know the families prefer these hearings take place rather than be delayed again and the only practicable way for that to happen is if they are moved to Barking.'

Mr O'Connor said a jury of 11 would be empanelled on January 7, with the hearings to go on for up to nine weeks.

In 2018, the documentary Faking It: Tears of a Crime on Investigation Discovery, helped shed light on how body language was the key to revealing the crimes Port had committed.    

During his police interviews, Port answered 'no' 40 times out of the 47 responses he gave to the questioning officers.

According to the experts, this indicated that he was guilty as he continued to emphasise the word 'no'.

As well as this Port's volume drops, suggesting that the words he is saying are not matched with the level of confidence or conviction behind them, experts said.

Timeline of Stephen Port's crimes

June 4, 2014: Police find Stephen Port at Barking station in East London with a young man he had drugged who has collapsed. Port admits they had taken illegal drugs but is not arrested.

June 19: Anthony Walgate, 23, given drug overdose and raped by Port who dumps body outside his flat and calls 999, claiming he has found an unconscious man.

June 26: Port suspected of lying to police and charged with perverting the course of justice. Released on bail. He is not accused of murdering Mr Walgate.

June 26: Port suspected of lying to police and charged with perverting the course of justice. Released on bail. He is not accused of murdering Mr Walgate.

August 28: Gabriel Kovari, 22, given an overdose and raped by Port who dumps the body against a graveyard wall.

August 28: Gabriel Kovari, 22, given an overdose and raped by Port who dumps the body against a graveyard wall.

September 20: Daniel Whitworth, 21, given a drug overdose and raped. Port dumps his body against the same graveyard wall. Mr Whitworth is wearing Mr Kovari's top and is in a bed-sheet which has Port's DNA on it.

September 20: Daniel Whitworth, 21, given a drug overdose and raped. Port dumps his body against the same graveyard wall. Mr Whitworth is wearing Mr Kovari's top and is in a bed-sheet which has Port's DNA on it.

October 1: Detective Chief Inspector Tony Kirk tells local paper the three deaths within a mile of each other are not being treated as suspicious.

October 1: Detective Chief Inspector Tony Kirk tells local paper the three deaths within a mile of each other are not being treated as suspicious.

March 23, 2015: Port jailed for perverting the course justice by lying over Mr Walgate's death. Released on licence in June with an electronic tag.

March 23, 2015: Port jailed for perverting the course justice by lying over Mr Walgate's death. Released on licence in June with an electronic tag.

September 13: Jack Taylor, 25, given a drug overdose and raped by Port. Body found next to the same graveyard.

September 13: Jack Taylor, 25, given a drug overdose and raped by Port. Body found next to the same graveyard.

October 15: Port arrested on suspicion of four murders and charged. Later charged with attacks on eight other men.

October 15: Port arrested on suspicion of four murders and charged. Later charged with attacks on eight other men.

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