Heartbroken sister of gay dancer poisoned with Devil’s Breath graciously ‘forgives’ his killers
The couple had been accused of the murder of dancer Adrian Murphy. (Adrian Murphy/Facebook)
The heartbroken sister of murdered gay Irish dancer Adrian Murphy has said she wants to face his killers and read her own victim impact statement.
Murphy, 43, was found dead at his home in Battersea, London in June 2019. He had been poisoned with a substance known as Devil’s Breath, an alternative name for the drug scopolamine which comes from the deadly nightshade plant family.
Joel Osei, 25, and his ex-girlfriend Diana Cristea, 18, were found guilty of murder by a jury at Croydon Crown Court on Friday (23 October).
Adrian’s sister Majella Murphy, a singer-songwriter, told The Irish Sun that she “forgives” Osei and Cristea and that she has been praying they “do no more harm”.
However, she revealed that she hopes to face his killers when they are sentenced at the Old Bailey Central Criminal Court on 14 December.
The grieving sister of murdered gay dancer Adrian Murphy says his killers are ‘going to hell’.
“I pray for them as they are going to hell for this. I pray that they will do no more harm. There has been so much harm done,” Majella told the newspaper.
“I also don’t wish his murderers suffering as I would be very sad if anyone, including them, would be suffering as I am now.
“All I can say is that I forgive them and I mean that. It is not because I am a good person, it is because I can’t afford to be the disher out of any more hate.”
Majella described her dancer brother as a “superstar” and said he was the “most generous, eclectic guy you could ever meet”.
I have to see them. I don’t know if they will even care but I want to see them.
“We were best friends, we did everything together, we were brother and sister. We were always there for each other,” Majella said.
“My life will never be the same. Half of me is gone now. I’m the youngest now which is shocking. I love him to the moon and back.”
Adrian Murphy’s grieving sister said she intends to travel to London to face his killers when they are sentenced.
“I have to see them. I don’t know if they will even care but I want to see them. I would like to read out my own victim impact statement but I don’t know if that’s allowed.”
Majella said she wants Osei and Cristea to be given the maximum sentence, saying they “need that”.
“It will never bring him back so there’s no justice for us. You see, my heart is broken.”
His heartbroken family said he brought ‘the love and art of dance to thousands of young people’ across the world.
On Friday (23 October), Osei and Cristea were found guilty of murdering Adrian Murphy, along with a slew of additional charges.
During the trial, jurors were told that Osei and Cristea had set up fake Grindr profiles in an effort to drug and rob gay and bisexual men using Devil’s Breath.
Murphy met Osei on the app and invited him to his Battersea residence on 1 June, 2019. The next day, after he was dead, Osei and Cristea tried to use his name to buy $80,000 (£62,000) worth of diamonds from a New York jeweller.
His body was discovered by his best friend on 4 June and £2,000 worth of goods, including a wallet, laptop and Louis Vuitton bag, were missing from his apartment.
Traces of Devil’s Breath were discovered in his system during a post-mortem.
In a statement released after the verdict, the family of Adrian Murphy praised as an “inspirational Irishman” who brought “the love and art of dance to thousands of young people” across the world.
“Adrian’s legacy is that of a hero and hopefully his tragic death has stopped this happening to any other innocent victim. He is now dancing amongst the stars. May he rest in peace.”
