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New Barrymore pool death inquiry | New Barrymore pool death inquiry |
(41 minutes later) | |
Police are to launch a new inquiry into the death five years ago of a man whose body was found in a swimming pool at comedian Michael Barrymore's home. | Police are to launch a new inquiry into the death five years ago of a man whose body was found in a swimming pool at comedian Michael Barrymore's home. |
The body of Stuart Lubbock, 31, from Harlow, Essex, was found during a party at the property in nearby Roydon. | The body of Stuart Lubbock, 31, from Harlow, Essex, was found during a party at the property in nearby Roydon. |
Mr Lubbock was later found to have severe internal injuries. | Mr Lubbock was later found to have severe internal injuries. |
Mr Barrymore and Mr Lubbock's family both said they were "delighted" by the new inquiry, which follows a police review of the original investigation. | |
No-one has ever been charged with any offence relating to the death. | |
A coroner recorded an open verdict at an inquest into Mr Lubbock's death in September 2002. | A coroner recorded an open verdict at an inquest into Mr Lubbock's death in September 2002. |
I'm willing to give every single assistance I can to bring closure to this matter for everybody's sake Michael Barrymore href="/1/hi/uk/6203080.stm" class="">Timeline of case | |
Mr Barrymore, who appeared in Scrooge at His Majesty's Theatre, in Aberdeen, on Saturday, said of the new inquiry: "I am delighted and thrilled and I will give my full support and hope this can come to some conclusion with this case for everyone's sake. | |
"I've been asking for years for this to be done. I'm willing to give every single assistance I can to bring closure to this matter for everybody's sake, so that we can all carry on with our lives. | |
"There are people that haven't been spoken to and this has to be cleared up for once and for all. It has been five-and-half years so far and five-and-half years too long." | |
Six-year wait | |
Mr Lubbock's father Terry - also of Harlow - has mounted a campaign for his son's death to be reinvestigated. | Mr Lubbock's father Terry - also of Harlow - has mounted a campaign for his son's death to be reinvestigated. |
He said: "I have waited nearly six years to find out what happened to my son. Now I believe the police have made a breakthrough." | |
A friend of the Lubbock family, Harry Cichy, told BBC News 24: "We hope and trust that all those at the party, including Michael Barrymore, are reinterviewed... to get to the truth of what happened. | |
"The fact remains that this an unsolved, unexplained case. The truth still needs to come out." | |
Mr Barrymore, 54, who accepted an official caution for drug offences during the original police investigation, was sacked by ITV in 2002 in the wake of Mr Lubbock's death. | |
He has said he later contemplated suicide. | |
One the night he died, Mr Lubbock had been among a number of people invited to a party at Mr Barrymore's home. | |
A post-mortem examination revealed Mr Lubbock had suffered severe internal injuries, suggesting he may have been the victim of a serious sexual assault before his death. | A post-mortem examination revealed Mr Lubbock had suffered severe internal injuries, suggesting he may have been the victim of a serious sexual assault before his death. |
Michael Barrymore's career faltered after Mr Lubbock's death | |
Alcohol, ecstasy and cocaine were found in his bloodstream. | Alcohol, ecstasy and cocaine were found in his bloodstream. |
In February a district judge blocked a bid by Terry Lubbock to mount a private prosecution against Mr Barrymore. | In February a district judge blocked a bid by Terry Lubbock to mount a private prosecution against Mr Barrymore. |
Mr Lubbock had wanted the comedian to answer allegations of drug misuse, disorderly behaviour and assault. | Mr Lubbock had wanted the comedian to answer allegations of drug misuse, disorderly behaviour and assault. |
However, following a private hearing at a magistrates' court in Southend, Essex, the district judge said there was insufficient evidence. | However, following a private hearing at a magistrates' court in Southend, Essex, the district judge said there was insufficient evidence. |
After that hearing, Terry Lubbock said: "There were at least eight people present on the night [Stuart] died and somebody knows why he died and what happened to him. | |
"None of them has ever come forward to tell us or the police the truth and I hope that pricks their conscience - and I doubt whether they sleep well at night. That includes Mr Barrymore." | "None of them has ever come forward to tell us or the police the truth and I hope that pricks their conscience - and I doubt whether they sleep well at night. That includes Mr Barrymore." |
New Zealand exile | New Zealand exile |
In response to the failed prosecution, Mr Barrymore said the evidence relied on was "either inadequate or unlawfully obtained". | |
Mr Barrymore left the UK for a period of self-imposed exile in New Zealand in 2003. | Mr Barrymore left the UK for a period of self-imposed exile in New Zealand in 2003. |
He returned to take part in Channel 4's Celebrity Big Brother earlier this year, finishing runner-up to fake celebrity Chantelle Houghton. | He returned to take part in Channel 4's Celebrity Big Brother earlier this year, finishing runner-up to fake celebrity Chantelle Houghton. |
Police began a routine review of the original investigation in April and confirmed the new investigation on Saturday. | Police began a routine review of the original investigation in April and confirmed the new investigation on Saturday. |
A spokeswoman would not say whether detectives had any plans to reinterview Mr Barrymore or whether he had already been reinterviewed. | A spokeswoman would not say whether detectives had any plans to reinterview Mr Barrymore or whether he had already been reinterviewed. |