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| Blood errors in Barrymore inquiry | Blood errors in Barrymore inquiry |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Blood found on the boxer shorts of a man found dead by Michael Barrymore's swimming pool was not properly investigated, a report has found. | Blood found on the boxer shorts of a man found dead by Michael Barrymore's swimming pool was not properly investigated, a report has found. |
| Stuart Lubbock, 31, was found dead at the entertainer's home in 2001. | |
| The police also failed to "promptly investigate" blood stains found on towels and a robe. | The police also failed to "promptly investigate" blood stains found on towels and a robe. |
| The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) inquiry found two pieces of evidence - a pool thermometer and a door handle - went missing. | The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) inquiry found two pieces of evidence - a pool thermometer and a door handle - went missing. |
| The IPCC upheld six of 36 complaints and allegations made by Stuart's father, Terry Lubbock. | The IPCC upheld six of 36 complaints and allegations made by Stuart's father, Terry Lubbock. |
| No one has ever been charged in connection with the death of Mr Lubbock and Mr Barrymore has always denied involvement. | No one has ever been charged in connection with the death of Mr Lubbock and Mr Barrymore has always denied involvement. |
| These shortcomings must be frustrating and distressing for Mr Lubbock, who has worked tirelessly to find out what happened to his son IPCC Commissioner David Petch | These shortcomings must be frustrating and distressing for Mr Lubbock, who has worked tirelessly to find out what happened to his son IPCC Commissioner David Petch |
| As well as the internal injuries, post-mortem tests showed Mr Lubbock had taken ecstasy, cocaine and alcohol before he died. | As well as the internal injuries, post-mortem tests showed Mr Lubbock had taken ecstasy, cocaine and alcohol before he died. |
| A coroner recorded an open verdict into Mr Lubbock's death following an inquest in September 2002. | A coroner recorded an open verdict into Mr Lubbock's death following an inquest in September 2002. |
| The IPCC report revealed that the two pieces of evidence which went missing could have been crucial to the case. | The IPCC report revealed that the two pieces of evidence which went missing could have been crucial to the case. |
| The swimming pool thermometer appears in photographs of the scene but, along with the detached door handle, was not seized by police or forensically tested. | The swimming pool thermometer appears in photographs of the scene but, along with the detached door handle, was not seized by police or forensically tested. |
| It was not been possible for the police to establish whether or not the implements were used to cause Mr Lubbock's injuries, the IPCC said. | It was not been possible for the police to establish whether or not the implements were used to cause Mr Lubbock's injuries, the IPCC said. |
| 'Lingering fears' | 'Lingering fears' |
| The complaints which were upheld include: the scene not being effectively preserved; unauthorised people allowed to stay at the scene; a member of the public being allowed to take the temperature of the swimming pool, and the investigation being suspended prematurely. | The complaints which were upheld include: the scene not being effectively preserved; unauthorised people allowed to stay at the scene; a member of the public being allowed to take the temperature of the swimming pool, and the investigation being suspended prematurely. |
| IPCC Commissioner David Petch said: "There are absolutely no grounds to support allegations that officers acted corruptly. | IPCC Commissioner David Petch said: "There are absolutely no grounds to support allegations that officers acted corruptly. |
| "The view that the entire investigation was incompetent is not borne out by the bulk of the evidence. | "The view that the entire investigation was incompetent is not borne out by the bulk of the evidence. |
| Mr Barrymore has always denied involvement in Mr Lubbock's death | Mr Barrymore has always denied involvement in Mr Lubbock's death |
| "But undoubtedly there were failings in some aspects of the investigation. | "But undoubtedly there were failings in some aspects of the investigation. |
| "As a consequence there are lingering fears that, because the integrity of the scene was not properly preserved, important evidence may have been lost." | "As a consequence there are lingering fears that, because the integrity of the scene was not properly preserved, important evidence may have been lost." |
| He added: "In our view the decision in December 2001 to suspend the investigation was premature - at that time some key forensic work had not been completed and some inquiries were still outstanding. | He added: "In our view the decision in December 2001 to suspend the investigation was premature - at that time some key forensic work had not been completed and some inquiries were still outstanding. |
| "We will probably never know whether the missing thermometer and door handle were evidentially important, but not securing these items was a failure and leaves questions unanswered. | "We will probably never know whether the missing thermometer and door handle were evidentially important, but not securing these items was a failure and leaves questions unanswered. |
| "All of these shortcomings must be frustrating and distressing for Mr Lubbock, who has worked tirelessly to find out what happened to his son." | "All of these shortcomings must be frustrating and distressing for Mr Lubbock, who has worked tirelessly to find out what happened to his son." |
| The Chief Constable of Essex Police has apologised to Terry Lubbock | The Chief Constable of Essex Police has apologised to Terry Lubbock |
| Terry Lubbock said the IPCC report revealed "significant" police errors. | Terry Lubbock said the IPCC report revealed "significant" police errors. |
| He said Lubbock: "If they had done the job properly in the first place we would have had people in court charged. I am sure of that. | He said Lubbock: "If they had done the job properly in the first place we would have had people in court charged. I am sure of that. |
| "And that is what I am still pursuing. I want justice to be done and I will not rest until it is." | "And that is what I am still pursuing. I want justice to be done and I will not rest until it is." |
| The IPCC began its inquiry in March 2007 after receiving complaints from Mr Lubbock. | The IPCC began its inquiry in March 2007 after receiving complaints from Mr Lubbock. |
| Deputy Chief Constable of Essex Police Andy Bliss said he had visited Mr Lubbock to deliver a personal apology on behalf of the force. | Deputy Chief Constable of Essex Police Andy Bliss said he had visited Mr Lubbock to deliver a personal apology on behalf of the force. |
| "Over the last eight years, Essex Police has taken a number of steps to improve investigations into suspicious deaths. | "Over the last eight years, Essex Police has taken a number of steps to improve investigations into suspicious deaths. |
| "Since this investigation, Essex Police has introduced specific training for dealing with suspicious deaths and we continually seek to improve this. | "Since this investigation, Essex Police has introduced specific training for dealing with suspicious deaths and we continually seek to improve this. |
| "We remain determined to find out what happened to Stuart back in March 2001. A new investigation began in 2006 and this remains ongoing." | "We remain determined to find out what happened to Stuart back in March 2001. A new investigation began in 2006 and this remains ongoing." |