Dead man’s father doesn’t blame gay TV star Barrymore
The father of the man found dead in the swimming pool of TV star Michael Barrymore five years ago, said today that he didn’t blame the star for the death of his son.
Stuart Lubbock, 31, was pronounced dead in hospital the morning after a party at Mr Barrymore’s home in March 2001.
His 61 year-old-father, Terry, met with Mr Barrymore for the first time this weekend and then told the Sun that he would work with Mr Barrymore to uncover the circumstances that led to the death of his son.
“We are going to demand police reopen the investigation into what happened that night,” Mr Lubbock told the Sun, “There are a lot of unanswered questions all round.”
“I don’t hold you responsible for Stuart’s death”, the paper quoted Mr Lubbock as telling the star.
Mr Barrymore was never charged over the death of Mr Lubbock but he the scandal destroyed his career as a television presenter.
Mr Barrymore had been living in New Zealand until January when he returned to Britain to star in the Channel 4 hit series, Celebrity Big Brother.
A Post mortem found that Mr Lubbock had drowned and an inquest recorded an open verdict. The coroner said that Mr Lubbock had consumed drugs and alcohol prior to his death and that his body showed serious anal injuries. on his death.
Two men were arrested on suspicion of Mr Lubbock’s murder, but later released them without charge.
“The way it has been portrayed is that Stuart died in some awful gay sex orgy at my house,” Mr Barrymore said today. “But that is simply not true. It was just a terrible tragic accident.”
