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A couple was found guilty of murdering an Irish dancer after meeting him through a gay dating app and poisoning him with a drug known as “devil’s breath.”
Joel Osei, 25, and his partner, Diana Cristea, 18, used profiles on Grindr to make friends with men as part of a scheme to drug and rob them.
Both were arrested on suspicion of murder after Adrian Murphy’s body was found in a 17th floor flat in Battersea, southwest London, on June 4, 2019.
Croydon Crown Court heard that paramedics had treated another man, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, several days earlier, who had also been drugged and robbed by Osei.
The couple then used the man’s details to buy diamonds worth $ 80,000 (€ 68,285) from a jeweler in New York to no avail.
Both Osei and Cristea were also charged with one count of administering a poison or noxious substance to endanger life, two counts of theft, and eight counts of fraud.
The jury returned a majority verdict on all charges for both defendants on Friday.
Osei admitted manslaughter but was convicted of murder.
He also pleaded guilty to an alternate count of administering poison, with the intent to injure, aggravate or annoy, and seven counts of fraud.
He denied two counts of robbery.
Cristea admitted one count of fraud and two counts of handling stolen goods, but was also convicted of all counts.
Prosecutor Crispin Aylett told the court that the drug scopolamine is known as “devil’s breath” in Colombia and is said to be “popular with thieves and rapists” to incapacitate its victims.
Following the verdict, Murphy’s brother Robert Murphy paid tribute to the “inspiring Irishman” and said his death had “left a great hole” in the family.
“The world is full of similarities, but this cannot be said of our brother Adrian,” he said in a statement.
“He made many loyal friends who are very saddened by his untimely death as he was an inspiring Irishman, a talented dancer and choreographer.
“He was also a lot of fun and made everyone laugh with his funny stories. He had the gift of bringing people together.
“Our family is heartbroken that Adrian is no longer with us.
“He has left a great void in our family and the fact that we can no longer see or hear him makes his absence feel even more so.
“Adrian loved his hometown of Kilkenny and although he was a regular world traveler, he never missed an opportunity to return to his family and friends.
“Adrian’s legacy is that of a hero and hopefully his tragic death has prevented this from happening to any other innocent victim.
“Now he is dancing among the stars. May he rest in peace. “
Osei, who previously lived in Kerswell Close in Seven Sisters, North London, and Cristea, of Langley Park, Mill Hill, Barnet, North London, were found guilty on all charges.
They are due to be sentenced at the Old Bailey on December 14.
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