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'Devil's breath' murder

'Devil's breath' murder

Couple found guilty of poisoning man they met on Grindr. Crispin Aylett QC prosecuted, Eleanor Laws QC defended.

A couple are found guilty of fatally poisoning an Irish dancer using a drug known as 'Devil’s Breath' as part of a plot to steal money from men they met on Grindr.

The jury returned a majority verdict on all counts for both defendants on Friday 23rd October after a four week trial.  The case was prosecuted by Crispin Aylett KC.  Eleanor Laws KC defended Diana Cristea, instructed by Lucinda Nicholls of Nicholls & Nicholls.

Joel Osei, 25, and his partner Diana Cristea, 18, were charged with killing 43-year-old Adrian Murphy whose body was found in the victim's 17th-floor flat in Battersea, southwest London, in June last year.  The pair were said to have used profiles on gay dating app Grindr to befriend Mr Murphy and other men with a view to drugging them with scopolamine - known as 'Devil's Breath' and later robbing them.

Joel Osei and Diana Cristea are to be sentenced in mid December.