Man whose body was found in wheelie bin died of drug overdose, police say

London man charged with preventing lawful and decent burial of 23-year-old Italian national

Erik San-Filippo's body was found in a wheelie bin in Tollington Road, Islington, on 11 May (Adam Gray / SWNS)

A man whose body was found dumped in a wheelie bin in north London died of a drug overdose, police have said.

Italian national Erik San-Filippo, 23, was found dead in Tollington Road, Islington, just before 4pm on 11 May.

An initial post-mortem examination proved inconclusive, but the Metropolitan Police said on Wednesday further testing had established the cause of death.

Gerardo Rossi, 52, of Tollington Road, was arrested on 16 May and charged with preventing the lawful and decent burial of a dead body.

He was remanded in custody and is due to stand trial at Snaresbrook Crown Court on 28 October.

San-Filippo was originally from Tuscany and worked as a trader at Camden Market before his death, according to the Islington Tribune.

"He was always laughing, making jokes," a friend told the newspaper. "Every day he was happy – happy with the customers and happy with everyone he worked with.”