Jurors face questions about 'morals and beliefs' ahead of Stephen Port's victims' inquests
Jurors in the inquests of four men murdered by the gay serial killer, Stephen Port, could be quizzed to ensure they are not homophhobic, a court has heard.
Lawyers for the families of the young men who died want those hearing the evidence to face questions about their "beliefs and moral attitudes" ahead of the case.
Port, 45, drugged and raped the young men and dumped their bodies near his home in Barking, east London, between 2014 and 2015.
Following a trial at the Old Bailey, he was handed a whole life sentence for the murders of fashion student Anthony Walgate, 23, Gabriel Kovari, 22, Kent chef Daniel Whitworth, 21, and Jack Taylor, 25, a forklift truck driver from Dagenham.
But fresh inquests were ordered after initial hearings which recorded open verdicts, were quashed.
The new inquests into all four victims, which will take place in January, are expected to focus on possible failings by police after the victims' families questioned why Port was not stopped sooner.
At a pre-inquest review at the Old Bailey on Thursday it was suggested that prospective jurors are asked to describe their "beliefs or moral attitudes".
Paul Clark, for the victims' families, cited the Equalities Act and said such a question was relevant in how jurors would treat one of the "core issues", whether there were "unjustified differences" in the way gay people were treated by police.
Peter Skelton QC, for the Metropolitan Police, said there was no general precedent for such a question to be put.
Andrew O'Connor, QC, advised coroner Sarah Munro QC to consider the matter again at a further pre-inquest hearing likely to take place on November 20.
He said: "It's an important and sensitive issue and we must strive to make the right decision."
The full inquest is due to start on January 7and will take place at Barking Town Hall rather than the Old Bailey.
Mr O’Connor said: "The view was taken, with the number of people now certainly involved in these hearings, the Old Bailey simply would not be able to provide sufficient accommodation.. that in part being due to the fact that such court space as there is available at the Old Bailey is required for urgent custody cases to be tried.
"For that reason a number of other venues were explored.
"Barking Town Hall has accommodation available and suitable so for that reason, my lady has taken a provisional decision that is the venue where the inquest will be heard.
"Of course we would have wished these hearings to take place at the Old Bailey.
"These are times we all have to make compromises.
"We know the families prefer these hearings take place rather than be delayed again and the only practicable way for that to happen is if they are moved to Barking."
Mr O'Connor said a jury of 11 would be empanelled on January 7, with the hearings to go on for up to nine weeks.
