Builder accused of helping torture and murder of Turkish DJ in London restaurant says he only went there to mop floor after a wedding

A builder accused of helping torture and murder a popular radio DJ yards from the Spurs stadium claimed he only went to the venue to mop the floor after a wedding.

Koray Alpergin, 43, was kidnapped from outside his north London home with his girlfriend Gozde Dalbudak, 34, and 'frog-marched' into a white van after dining in Mayfair, the Old Bailey heard.

Mr Alpergin was the owner of Turkish radio station Bizim FM and had connections with celebrities such as rapper P Diddy and internet sensation ‘Salt Bae’.

The DJ suffered 'horrific injuries' before he was killed while Ms Dalbudak was locked in a toilet for two days, jurors were told. 

His naked body was then dumped in woodland in Loughton, Essex, before it was found by a dog walker, the court heard.

He suffered 94 injuries, including 14 broken ribs and severe head injuries, ligature injuries to his neck and injuries to his private parts.

Giving evidence assisted by an interpreter, builder Isay Stoyanov denied knowing anything about the kidnap and murder of Mr Alpergin before he was arrested.

He told the court that he used to spend time at a cafe in north London where people would often go if they were looking for work.

Stoyanov claimed someone there asked him to come to the Stadium Lounge restaurant to help mop the floor and move chairs after a wedding the day prior.

His DNA was found on bags of cleaning products and other surfaces in the restaurant where Mr Alpergin was killed and his girlfriend was held prisoner, the court heard.

Stoyanov said the group were there for 20 minutes with one heading to the shop twice to buy cleaning products as well Jack Daniels and Red Bull.

Asked why they needed alcohol when they were only there to mop the floor he replied: ‘Why not?’

Stoyanov said he moved a fridge which was outside a toilet door.

Prosecutor Crispin Aylett, KC, said the fridge had been there to hold Ms Dalbudak in the toilet.

‘Did it strike you as odd the fridge was there if there had just been a wedding?’ Mr Aylett asked.

Stoyanov answered: ‘Yes it was, but there were two toilets there, I thought one of them was out of order. That’s why I thought the fridge was there and I moved it.’

He told the court that he was paid £20 for cleaning the floor, adding that he wore gloves to protect his hands as he was used to doing that as a builder.

Of the eight men alleged to have been involved in the kidnappings of Mr Alpergin and Ms Dalbudak, five have already been convicted and two have fled to Turkey, 

Is it yet to be confirmed if Dylan Weatherley - also alleged to have been involved - was a passenger in the vehicle.

Mr Aylett earlier told the court: ‘The four men in the white van were Kyrie Mitchell-Peart, Steffan Gordon, Tejean Kennedy and Samuel Owusu-Opuku.’

Gordon admitted kidnapping Mr Alpergin and Ms Dalbudak, but was convicted of two further counts of false imprisonment.

Kennedy was convicted of kidnap, false imprisonment and manslaughter.

Owusu-Opoku was found guilty of kidnapping, acquitted of false imprisonment but admitted perverting the course of justice.

Ali Kavak, who was seen clearing out the back seats of his Polo before putting Mr Alpergin’s body inside - according to Mr Aylett - was convicted of manslaughter, kidnapping, false imprisonment and perverting the course of justice.

Weatherley, of Tottenham, and Stoyanov of Haringey, both deny murder, two counts of kidnap and two of false imprisonment of the couple.

Stoyanov denies perverting the course of justice.

Kyle Mitchell-Peart, 31, of Whetstone, north London, has admitted two counts of kidnapping and two counts of false imprisonment.

The trial continues.