'Fake policeman killed man in bondage sex session' before second murder in Italy, court hears

A fake policeman smothered a man to death in a bondage sex session before fleeing to Italy, where he murdered a second man and tried to kill a third, a court has heard.

Jason Marshall allegedly tied up computer repairman Peter Fasoli at the victim's home in Northolt, northwest London, four years ago.

Marshall, 28, who was posing as a policeman, used cling film to stop him breathing after they met on gay dating website Badoo, the Old Bailey was told.

He then stole £780 in cash from Mr Fasoli, set fire to his bungalow to cover up the killing and fled to Rome after buying a ticket using the 58-year-old's bank card, jurors heard.

Mr Fasoli's death in January 2013 was thought for almost two years to be an accident - until his nephew found footage of the violent killing on the victim's hard drive.

On 26 January 2013, less than three weeks after the death, Marshall murdered Badoo user Vincenzo Iale, 67, strangling him with an electrical flex at his flat in Rome.

Just over a week later, Marshall contacted Umberto Gismondi on Badoo, posing as 'Gabriel', and they arranged to meet for sex, jurors were told.

When Mr Gismondi, 54, invited Marshall to his flat in Rome, he pretended he worked at the British Embassy and carried with him a holster, utility belt, pistol, pepper spray and truncheon.

He bound, gagged and attacked Mr Gismondi with the truncheon and pepper spray, demanded money and tried to smother him with a cushion.

Marshall fled when Mr Gismondi alerted his neighbours, but was later arrested, jurors were told.

He was convicted by an Italian court of Mr Iale's murder, as well as using threats to obtain the victim's wallet and stealing his car.

Marshall was also found guilty in July 2014 of the attempted murder of Mr Gismondi, possession of a truncheon, and using violence to get his bank cards and €400 (£360).

The defendant was flown back to Heathrow Airport in February, arrested and then charged with Mr Fasoli's murder.

Marshall, of East Ham, east London, denies murder. The trial continues.