As he faces death, murder victim Stuart Lubbock’s father hires top lawyer to seek a second inquest into what went on in Michael Barrymore’s swimming pool in 2001
Nearly twenty years ago on 31st March 2001, ‘entertainer’ Michael Barrymore invited a gaggle of people to his home for an after-party. He knew some of them well, others less so and when one of them, 31-year-old Stuart Lubbock, was found dead in the environs of his swimming pool, a wall of silence disgracefully went up.
One man, the victim’s father Terry Lubbock, has run a campaign to get justice and though Barrymore and his cronies have repeatedly contradicted one another and nobody has ever been convicted, this determined individual has never given up.
Now suffering with terminal prostate cancer and living in a care home in Harlow, Essex Terry Lubbock yesterday told the Mirror that he hopes to “win permission to apply to the High Court for a new inquest” and stated:
“I’ve only a few months left. I want justice for my son before I go. We’ve got a big-gun barrister working on this. We are getting close.”
“The first inquest was either a mess-up or a cover-up. Our own team have been working on the case and have dug up new evidence. We are going for a second inquest. It will reveal everything.”
“Whoever did this to my son has got away with it for 20 years, but not for much longer. I can’t die without knowing there will be a second inquest because then I feel sure the truth will come out.”
Responding, the QC mentioned, Alan Payne, remarked:
“Terry is a man of great dignity and principle. I was grateful for the chance to help identify steps that might be taken to try to get greater clarity as to events surrounding his son’s death.”
Last month, we reported on a member of Essex Police giving a statement about the case. At the time, Detective Chief Inspector Stephen Jennings remarked:
“I believe that [Stuart] was raped and murdered that night. One or more of those party-goers are responsible for that serious sexual assault on Stuart Lubbock.”
“We remain committed to this investigation and continue to appeal for information leading to arrest and conviction in relation to the rape and murder of Stuart Lubbock.”
“Nine people went to the party at Michael Barrymore’s house, but only one of them – Stuart – ended up being violently sexually assaulted and murdered.”
“We know not everyone at that party was responsible for what happened, but someone was. We also know that not everyone at that party may know what happened, but someone does.”
“We want the people who do have information to come forward and talk to us – it is never too late to do the right thing and give the Lubbock family the answers and justice they have waited so long to have.”
To learn of developments in this case, follow the Justice4Stuart Official page on Twitter at @Justice4Stuart.
Pictured top: Disgraced ‘entertainer’ Michael Barrymore (left) and Terry Lubbock with a picture of his murdered son, Stuart.
Justice for Stuart Lubbock – The people who need to tell the truth about what happened at Michael Barrymore’s home on 31st March 2001
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.”
Mike Brown – Agent of Michael Barrymore. Called to the property before emergency services arrived.
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 (sometimes spelt ‘Futers’) – 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].”
In addition, others, who’ve never been identified could also have possibly been present. If they were, they should come forward or be named by those listed above.