A part-time actor who appeared in the James Bond film Skyfall was murdered with an overdose of a chemsex drug during a plot to steal from gay men on Grindr dates, the Old Bailey heard today.
Eric Michels, 52, was allegedly killed by 25-year-old Gerry Matovu with the drug GHB during an encounter at his home in Chessington, south-west London.
It is alleged that Mr Michels was one of 12 people targeted by Matovu, who is accused of plotting with Brandon Dunbar, 23, to drug men in order to steal from them. Prosecutor Jonathan Rees QC told jurors that some men had their drinks spiked, while others were fleeced while distracted as they had sex.
“These two defendants, often working together, took advantage of hook-ups and dates that had been arranged with other gay men through the app Grindr, to steal property from those men and also to take photos of their bank cards and other identification documents for the purpose of fraud”, said Mr Rees.
“Twelve gay men who met up with one or both of the defendants with a view to having sex, ended up being the victims of their criminal enterprise.” Matovu and Dunbar, who were also lovers, are both accused of offences between 2016 and 2018, including theft, fraud, administering a poison and sexual assault.
Matovu alone is accused of Mr Michels’ murder on August 17 last year. US-born Mr Michels was a human resources executive for energy firm SSE and as a part-time actor briefly appeared in Skyfall. He also had a role in the 2014 movie Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit.
Matovu, of Southwark, denies murder, administering a poisonous or noxious substance so as to endanger life, and possession of class C drugs. He and Dunbar, of Forest Gate, deny five further charges of administering a noxious substance so as to endanger life, theft, sexual assault by penetration and assault. Dunbar denies multiple further charges. The trial continues.
