Gordon Semple was found dead in his London flat. The man accused of killing him appeared before a judge at the Old Bailey via video link.
The plea has been postponed in the case of a man accused of strangling and dismembering a police officer he met on gay dating website Grindr.
Italian Stefano Brizzi, 50, allegedly murdered 59-year-old PC Gordon Semple at his London flat some time between April 1 and April 7.
Mr Semple was originally from Inverness in Scotland and had been with the Metropolitan Police for 30 years.
He went missing on April 1 and his remains were discovered a week later after a neighbour alerted Scotland Yard to a “smell of death” coming from a property on the Peabody Estate in Southwark Street, south London.
Recorder of London Nicholas Hilliard QC has already set a provisional date for Brizzi to face trial on October 18.
The defendant appeared before the Old Bailey judge by video link from top-security Belmarsh prison.
Wearing sunglasses and a white and beige tracksuit, he spoke only to confirm his name.
Prosecutor Crispin Aylett QC asked for the plea hearing to be put back to September 9.
Judge Hilliard agreed the new timetable and remanded Brizzi in custody until the next hearing.
