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The long-awaited inquests into the deaths of the victims of serial killer Stephen Port are set to open.
Daniel Whitworth, from Gravesend, was one of four victims of the so-called 'Grindr Killer' who drugged, raped and murdered young men after meeting them via the dating app.
In 2016, 46-year-old Port, from Barking, was found guilty of the murders of Mr Whitworth, 21, Anthony Walgate, 23, Gabriel Kovari, 22, and Jack Taylor, 25, between June 2014 and September 2015.
Since then the victims’ families have continued to fight for answers as to why he evaded detection by police for so long.
On Tuesday an inquest into the four deaths will be held at Barking Town Hall which will seek to answer questions relating to how the murders were investigated.
It comes seven years after the death of Daniel, a chef and former Dartford Grammar School pupil, and six years after Port’s 16-month killing spree was brought to an end, following the death of the final victim, Jack.
On Monday, the families' lawyer Neil Hudgell, of Hudgell Solicitors, said: “Their families have felt every single day of their absence.
“They have waited with great patience and conducted themselves with real dignity.
“Yet, they’ve always wondered about whether there would have been a different outcome if the police had investigated Port properly and taken their concerns seriously, and if their boys hadn’t been gay.
“For them, the inquests mark a key step in their quest for accountability.”
A senior Metropolitan Police officer offered an apology to the victims’ families and highlighted changes the force had made since the Port case.
They include a written protocol for minimum standards of investigation for unexplained deaths and extra training for officers on how drugs can be used as a weapon by offenders to facilitate rape and sexual assault, as well as on issues that impact on the confidence of our LGBT+ communities.
The Met Police says it is offering every support to the inquest and has provided all statements and information required to aid the jury in thoroughly examining what happened.
“For them, the inquests mark a key step in their quest for accountability.”
Commander Jon Savell said: “Our thoughts are firstly with the family and friends of those murdered by Stephen Port. We know this will be a painful and difficult time for them, hearing details once more of what happened to their loved ones.”
“At the time of Port’s conviction, we apologised to the victims’ families and Daniel Whitworth’s partner for how we initially responded to the deaths, and I would like to apologise again.
“Since Port’s offences came to light we have worked hard within the Met to improve both our processes and our wider knowledge across the organisation of a range of issues associated with the murders.
“We will not prejudge the findings of the inquests but we will review any more improvements the jury and coroner identify that we need to make.
“It is extremely important to us that members of the LGBT+ communities trust the police and feel confident they are being provided with the best possible service.
"We welcome the help and support of our independent advisors and a whole range of community partners to help us achieve this.”
Her Honour Judge Sarah Munro QC, who will be the coroner for the inquests, instructed jurors to focus on the evidence in court during their swearing in on Friday.
She said: “On Tuesday … we will commence hearing inquests into the deaths of four young men who were murdered by a man called Stephen Port in 2014 and 2015.
“They were killed by him with overdoses of a date rape drug called GHB and their bodies were discarded by him yards from where we are sitting now.”
The inquest had been due to be heard in January but due to meeting restrictions caused by the third national lockdown it was adjourned.
It means the victims' families faced a 10-month delay for proceedings to start.
