Barrymore ‘pestered pool party victim to have sex’
Ex-detective says a new witness saw party ‘fracas’
FORMER TV presenter Michael Barrymore had pressured a man found dead in his swimming pool for sex, a retired detective claimed yesterday.
Former detective constable Susan Jenkins told the High Court in London that a new witness had come forward to make the claim about Barrymore’s alleged advances to Stuart Lubbock, 31, a divorced dad of two.
Stuart was attending a party at the entertainer’s Essex mansion – and was later found dead in the pool.
Barrymore, 65, once one of Britain’s most popular and highest-paid television stars, is suing Essex Police for £2.5million over his 2007 arrest on suspicion of raping and murdering Stuart.
Jenkins told the court she believed Stuart was raped and murdered.
She said the new witness claimed Barrymore had been “pressurising” the dead man for sex and had got in a “fracas” with his then partner, Jonathan Kenney.
She said: “Mr Barrymore was seen to be pressurising the man for sex, but was told he was straight.”
Hugh Tomlinson QC, for Barrymore, clarified that there was “no evidence” of a fracas between Barrymore and Stuart, only between him and Jonathan.
Jenkins agreed, saying: “There was an argument, raised voices, nothing violent.” She added the new witness was credible and told of a drugfuelled party and a fracas after Jonathan told Barrymore that Stuart was not gay.
Tomlinson asked: “How does that support the suspicion that Mr Barrymore was guilty of rape and murder?”
Jenkins said: “The pressurising for sex shows it and that Mr Barrymore was interested in a sexual encounter.” Tomlinson asked: “And that is linked to rape and murder how?”
Jenkins said it was, when put with “all the other evidence”.
A post-mortem revealed Stuart’s possible causes of death were drowning, heart failure, drink, drugs and hypothermia. He had injuries consistent with sexual assault.
The case continues.
There was an argument, raised voices, nothing violent SUSAN JENKINS