
Ports is accused of drugging and killing Anthony Walgate (l), 23, Daniel Whitworth, 21, Jack Taylor, 25, and Gabriel Kovari, 22, before dumping their bodies in and around a churchyard in Barking.
The Metropolitan Police Service, which has referred itself to the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) over its handling of the case, said in September 2014 that the deaths of Mr Kovari and Mr Whitworth were "unusual and confusing", but insisted that although they were found in the same location, there was "nothing, at the moment, suspicious". The force has come under fire from veteran LGBT rights campaigner Peter Tatchell for their failure to link the deaths sooner and alert the gay community to the potential threat. "It is appalling that the police did not alert the gay community last year that a serial killer could be on the loose. Concerns were raised with the police at the time by a friend of one the victims, Gabriel Kovari, but they seem to have been ignored", Tatchell said. "Four young men are dead. This appeal should have been made in June and August last year after the first two deaths. If the police had done that, some of these men might still be alive". Port's trial is expected to last up to 10 weeks, after originally being delayed for six months due to the depth of the investigation into Port's alleged crimes. More stories: Making history: The new generation of black LGBT+ role models Brent Corrigan accuses James Franco’s ‘King Cobra’ of showing contempt for gay culture