Aristocrat killer who forced candle down victim's throat spotted on dating apps
Art gallery owner Bennet von Vertes brutally murdered 23-year-old British graduate Alex Morgan with a candlestick in a Swiss villa - but is now said to be popping up on dating apps
An aristocrat who brutally murdered his victim by shoving a candlestick down his throat has been found searching for love on dating apps.
Art gallery owner Bennet von Vertes killed Alex Morgan in a Swiss villa in 2014. He was later handed a 12 year jail sentence for the savage attack, which saw him beat the 23-year-old British graduate with a candelabra, stab him with glass and force a candle down his throat. Now Alex's mum Katja Faber says she has been sent pictures of her son's killer trying to find love after a string of women alerted her to his profiles on dating apps.
Katja told the Standard: "It's quite extraordinary that someone on parole for such serious crimes can wander about the world as if he had done nothing."
Alex was born in London but studied at Gordonstoun near Elgin, Scotland for several years, before meeting his killer at Regent's University London, then known as Regent's College.
His mum had moved to Switzerland, and when he went to visit her in December 2014, he was invited by Von Vertes to his family's empty villa after a night out, reports the Daily Record.
There, Alex suffered more than 50 injuries in the brutal and prolonged attack, and was pronounced dead the following morning.
During his trial, Von Vertes claimed Alex was the aggressor - but he did not show any defensive injuries, suffering only one cut to his finger.
He was found guilty of intentional homicide but the case was sent back to court in 2019 for appeal, where Von Vertes claimed he was so high on drugs he believed Alex was a green alien.
The killer was temporarily transferred to an enclosed rehab facility, but after another appeal by Katja, he was again found guilty of intentional homicide.
The Supreme Court denied Von Vertes's final appeal in 2023. He was also found guilty of raping a woman in a London hotel.
But last year, Von Vertes was released on full parole - and Katja, who now lives on a farm in Spain and helps other families suffering grief, was recently sent images of Von Vertes on dating apps from two women. She was also contacted by a third woman.
One image shows Von Vertes with an AirPod in his ear and the other is of him standing in front of a set of mailboxes.
It came after one woman said unwittingly went on a date with Von Vertes while he was on day release from prison, describing him as "verbally abusive" and claiming he had boasted about serving time in prison for killing someone.
She said he had used the pseudonym Benjamin Schwarz when she met him on the app.
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During Monday's disorder, 15 police officers were injured and several PSNI vehicles were damaged. In Clonavon Terrace, several houses had their windows smashed and two which suffered significant smoke damage remained sealed off on Tuesday. A 29-year-old man was charged with riotous behaviour after being arrested on Monday night. Police officers using a water cannon near Clonavon Terrace (Niall Carson/PA) Mr Henderson said other arrests are expected following the examination of video footage. The earlier peaceful protest formed in support of the family of the girl. Two 14-year-old boys appeared in court on Monday charged with attempted rape. The charges were read to the teenagers by a Romanian interpreter. On Tuesday, the PSNI said it had made a third arrest in connection with the incident and reiterated a public appeal for information. Detective Inspector Olphert from the PSNI's public protection branch said: 'A 28-year-old man was arrested yesterday evening, Monday June 9. 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'PSNI and the justice system must be allowed to carry out their jobs and our thoughts are with the victims of the assault as well as the police officers who were injured.'
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Many young children were present among those gathered near police lines. As rioters were dispersed into other parts of the town as the evening progressed into night, a property on Bridge Street and a home on Queen Street were set on fire. Other properties had windows smashed as some residents chose to display signs about the nationalities of those normally resident, including one saying 'British household' and another with 'Filipino lives here'. Multiple cars were also set on fire as part of blazes set by rioters, including near a car wash and tyre centre off Bridge Street and on Larne Street. The clothing of at least one participant caught fire during the disorder. The PSNI cleared streets and allowed gaps in its barricades for firefighters to tackle fires in the town as chaotic scenes continued past midnight. Officers also used a drone as part of the response to illegal activity, which saw some rioters kick in doors and ransack homes. The Northern Ireland Secretary has said there is 'no justification' for attacks on police officers or vandalism. The terrible scenes of civil disorder we have witnessed in Ballymena again this evening have no place in Northern Ireland. There is absolutely no justification for attacks on PSNI officers or for vandalism directed at people's homes or property. — Hilary Benn (@hilarybennmp) June 10, 2025 In a social media post, Hilary Benn said: 'The terrible scenes of civil disorder we have witnessed in Ballymena again this evening have no place in Northern Ireland. 'There is absolutely no justification for attacks on PSNI officers or for vandalism directed at people's homes or property.' During Monday's disorder, 15 police officers were injured and several PSNI vehicles were damaged. In Clonavon Terrace, several houses had their windows smashed and two which suffered significant smoke damage remained sealed off on Tuesday. A 29-year-old man was charged with riotous behaviour after being arrested on Monday night. Mr Henderson said other arrests are expected following the examination of video footage. The earlier peaceful protest formed in support of the family of the girl. Two 14-year-old boys appeared in court on Monday charged with attempted rape. The charges were read to the teenagers by a Romanian interpreter. On Tuesday, the PSNI said it had made a third arrest in connection with the incident and reiterated a public appeal for information. Detective Inspector Olphert from the PSNI's public protection branch said: 'A 28-year-old man was arrested yesterday evening, Monday June 9. 'He has been unconditionally released from police custody following questioning.' At a press conference on Tuesday, Mr Henderson said the attacks should be 'loudly condemned by all right-thinking people'. 'Any attempt to justify or explain it as something else is misplaced,' he said at a press conference at Ballymena police station earlier on Tuesday. He said members of the minority ethnic community 'felt fear' and there will be a significant policing operation in the town in the coming days to reassure the community. Mr Henderson said that police officers from England and Wales will be brought to Northern Ireland if needed to help the PSNI in the wake of the Ballymena disorder. The Prime Minister's official spokesman said: 'The disorder we saw in Ballymena is very concerning. 'Obviously, the reports of sexual assault in the area are extremely distressing, but there is no justification for attacks on police officers while they continue to protect local communities. 'PSNI and the justice system must be allowed to carry out their jobs and our thoughts are with the victims of the assault as well as the police officers who were injured.'
