Father of man found dead in Barrymore pool to claim

Published on Saturday 13 October 2007 00:15

THE father of a butcher whose body was discovered in Michael Barrymore's swimming pool yesterday said that he would seek more than £10,000 compensation.

Terry Lubbock - whose son, Stuart, was found dead at the entertainer's then home in Roydon, Essex, six years ago - said he would claim cash from a government-run criminal injuries compensation scheme.

Earlier this year detectives said they were treating Mr Lubbock's death in March 2001 as murder - although no- one has been charged with any offence.

Last month Barrymore, 55, who now lives in London, was released without charge after being arrested in June on suspicion of sexually assaulting and murdering Mr Lubbock.

Crown Prosecution Service lawyers said there was "no realistic prospect" of convicting Barrymore because of "insufficient evidence".

Terry Lubbock, 62, of Harlow, Essex, said he had been given the green light to make a claim after police decided that his son was murdered.

"The Criminal Injuries Compensation Board say the police have now told them that Stuart was a victim of a crime and I can claim," he said.

"I'm over the moon. Not because of the money, but because the money will help me continue fighting for justice.

"I'll claim about 11,000 to cover such things as funeral costs, and loss and suffering."

A spokesman for the board, now called the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA), refused to discuss individual cases.

A spokeswoman for Essex Police said officers had been in contact with the CICA.

Mr Lubbock, of Harlow, was one of a number of guests at a party hosted by Barrymore. Post-mortem tests showed that he had suffered severe internal injuries, which suggested sexual assault. Ecstasy, cocaine and alcohol were found in his bloodstream.