As Michael Barrymore is branded “hilarious” and a “novelty” as he makes his TV comeback, we suggest there is no “comic impact” about this at all; what is required instead is justice for the late Stuart Lubbock
Heterosexual and known as “a bit of a womaniser,” 31-year-old meat packing worker Stuart Lubbock died on the 31st March 2001 in the most horrific of circumstances in Roydon, Essex. He had suffered “severe internal injuries” caused by a “fist or hard object” being “forcibly inserted into his anus” at the home of the television personality Michael Barrymore and was found dead next to the ‘entertainer’s’ swimming pool at around 5.45am. Neighbours had reported screaming at 5am but no call was made to emergency services until 5.45am.
As well as Barrymore and Lubbock, at least seven others were present at the “drugs and booze party” in the early hours of that March morning, but the individual that inflicted the “extremely violent non-consensual sexual assault, most likely rape” on this divorced father of two has disgracefully never been brought to justice.
Likely the result of a “rape so severe it could have killed him alone” and not at all likely the result of drowning, Lubbock’s death remains an unsolved crime 18 years later. Meanwhile Michael Barrymore is now seeking to revive his career and of it yesterday, The Scottish Sun reported:
ENTERTAINER Michael Barrymore is to make his TV comeback on Dancing On Ice.
Bosses reportedly feel he will have the same “comic impact” as last year’s novelty contestant Gemma Collins and will “be hilarious on the ice”.
No pressure, Michael.
That Barrymore is someone who can be thought of as “hilarious” and having “comic impact” is utterly preposterous and that he was also supposedly paid £60,000 for an interview with Piers Morgan (according to Terry Lubbock, Stuart Lubbock’s father) in June 2019 is both highly distasteful and inappropriate.
We join Terry Lubbock in calling for justice for Stuart Lubbock and suggest at least one of the eight others present at the home of Michael Barrymore on 31st March 2001 must actually know how his death was actually brought about. They are:
Michael Parker (AKA Michael Barrymore) – Allegedly loudly said: “I need a f**k” in a taxi as he left the Millennium Nightclub to return to his home, the scene of the death of Stuart Lubbock. Barrymore later lied to a coroner’s court about facilitating drug taking at his house on the night in question also. He claimed to have been first to have discovered the body of Stuart Lubbock at 5.45am, called his manager Mike Brown before the ambulance arrived and then left the premises. He admits that was “wrong” and also bizarrely told Piers Morgan that in spite of “knowing others were hiding secrets about what happened to Mr. Lubbock” that “I am not going to say their names. I just hope they are brave enough to come forward one day.”
Kelly Campbell – Had met Michael Barrymore for the first time on the night of the incident. Claimed not to have been aware of what happened.
James Futters – A paper boy turned chef. Described as “a local from the village” and a “friend and neighbour of Barrymore.” Claimed to have been the first to discover the body with Simon Shaw and stated: “[It was not] Michael Barrymore and not Jonathan Kenney [who found him].” Later, of him the Evening Standard reported: “Barrymore offered James Futters a white powder on his finger saying: “Do you want to try this?” Mr Futters told the inquest that he leaned forward and licked the powder.”
Claire Jones – Then aged 17. Had met Michael Barrymore for the first time on the night of the incident. Claimed not to have been aware of what happened but told the police that she “saw Barrymore rummaging through drawers and changing his clothes before police arrived. When he left the house he had a ‘bundle of material’ under his arm,” according to the Evening Standard. “She added: ‘Jonathan (Kenney) was rushing through the bungalow before the ambulance and police arrived. I got the impression he was hiding something.’”
Jonathan Kenney – Estate agent, drag queen and Michael Barrymore’s then lover; later arrested on suspicion of murder but never charged; known for having a “record of violence.” Claimed to have been the first to have discovered the body.
Justin Merritt – A dustman from Essex. Later arrested on suspicion of murder but never charged. Later paid £30,000 by the News of the World for an interview in which he stated Barrymore had “rubbed cocaine on Stuart Lubbock’s lips shortly before he died.”
Kylie Merritt – Sister of Justin Merritt. She also alleged Barrymore “rubbed cocaine on Stuart Lubbock’s lips shortly before he died” (curiously in the wake of her brother selling his account of the night).
Simon Shaw – Described as “a local from the village.” Michael Barrymore supposedly “ran off” to Mr. Shaw’s house to “buy himself thinking time [for two hours] before he was questioned by the police [at 7.49am].”
Aside from police incompetence and missing evidence – including a pool thermometer and door handle that had been by the pool – in this case, two witnesses were allegedly “paid off” not to give evidence against Barrymore. What this “wall of silence,” as the coroner Caroline Beasley-Murray referred to it, hides may never be known but it is time each and every one of these people told the truth about what they know about the death of Stuart Lubbock. It is time that justice was finally served.
Follow Terry Lubbock and his campaign to get justice for his son on Twitter at @Terryrlubbock.
Pictured top: Michael Barrymore and helmet haired horror and convicted drunken racist Marie Claire, Baroness von Alvensleben rolling around on the floor at a charity event in 2000..
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