Filmmaker Claudio Gaetani died of a heart attack in late 2022 (Pictures: X/Facebook)
A Metropolitan Police officer is facing criminal charges after allegedly looting a dead man’s body in north London.
Italian filmmaker Claudio Gaetani, 45, collapsed from a fatal heart attack in September 2022 while cycling to meet friends in Hornsey.
He had been in London to attend a theatre festival, having arrived from Italy the evening prior to his death.
Two officers watched over his body until an undertaker came, while his corpse was in full view of ‘children’.
But more than £170 Mr Gaetani had exchanged at the airport was missing from his wallet after family got his belongings back.
One of his friends has since said body worn footage showed an officer counting the money at the scene.
Friends alerted the police to the missing money (Picture: Facebook)
Mr Gaetani had been in London for a theatre festival (Picture: X)
Scotland Yard received a complaint in October 2022 which it referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct the same month.
In June 2023, one of the two officers involved was placed on restricted duties.
Mr Gaetani’s friend previously said: ‘The money is not the issue. Claudio comes from quite a wealthy family.
‘I’m still doing this complaint, not because of the money, but because people who are in uniform they should have a kind of trust. I think it is really disrespectful. I was really, really upset.’
The Crown Prosecution Service is expected to make a decision soon.
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A police spokesman said: ‘The Met received a complaint in October 2022 following the death of a 45-year-old man in north London in September 2022.
‘This was referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) the same month, and in January 2023, the IOPC directed it should be investigated locally by the Met.
‘As a result of this, in June 2023 an officer was put on restricted duties, which they remain on. We are aware of the significant impact this will be continuing to have on the man’s family and have been in contact with them while the enquiries progress.
‘A file was passed to the Crown Prosecution Service for a charging decision in March. We await their decision.’
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