Michael Barrymore pool victim's brother recalls fateful evening in documentary

18 November 2023 , 17:48

519     0

Michael Barrymore pool victim's brother recalls fateful evening in documentary

Michael Barrymore pool victim Stuart Lubbock's brother Kevin detailed his harrowing final moments in a brand-new TV documentary for Channel 5.

Kevin speaks about the night the pair met Barrymore at the Millenium nightclub in Harlow, Essex. He recounts how he and his brother, who were both in their 20s at the time, got to speak with Michael in the show airing on Saturday at 9pm.

"There was a gathering outside the toilet. And I said to Stuart, 'oh, what is going on there?' Stuart said to me, 'Michael Barrymore is in that toilet'," he remembered. "And he comes over in my direction, which is funny because Stuart is with me. I thought it was a bit odd really that Michael Barrymore came over in that direction."

Kevin opens up in a new documentary for Channel 5

"And I get hold of Michael Barrymore's hand. I say, ‘Awight, awight’? He sort of liked that. He smiled at me and said, ‘Who are you?’ I don't know whether he was looking at Stuart as well, because I was just focusing on his lips of, who are you? I think I was on the second floor for about half an hour. Anyway, I decided to give it up.

"You know, I looked around for Stuart, but I couldn't find him at all. I went home, went to bed, woke up the next morning, turned on the telly and I couldn't believe it." It was after seeing the news break about the body found in Barrymore's pool that Kevin attempted to share the unbelievable coincidence with his brother, only to find he was gone.

Man in 30s dies after being stabbed in park sparking police probe

In the programme, Michael Barrymore: The Rise and Fall of Mr Saturday Night, Kevin says: "I remember looking at this (the news bulletin) and thinking, oh, Michael Barrymore was in the nightclub last night.

"Stuart would love to hear about this when he gets home. The day was progressing a bit into the afternoon. And I text Stuart on his phone, ‘Are you okay, bruv?’ And I think the police had Stuart's phone. There was a knock at the door. They just came in and said hello, can we speak to you? Stuart is dead. I couldn't believe it. It took a while to sink in."

Stuart died at Barrymore's house on March 31, 2001 (Channel 5)

Stuart Lubbock, 31, died at Barrymore's house on March 31, 2001. At 5.46am on the fateful night party guest, Justin Merritt dialled 999 to say a "geezer" had drowned in the pool. Police did not secure the scene, after appearing to accept that meat factory supervisor Stuart drowned after drinking heavily and taking cocaine and ecstasy.

Only after a post-mortem later that day found Stuart, of Harlow, had suffered the internal injuries was a murder probe launched. Ex-Strike It Lucky host Barrymore, now 71, was given a caution in October 2001 for drug offences. No further charges were brought. Mr Kenney and Mr Merritt were arrested on suspicion of murder and later released without charge.

All three were arrested on suspicion of murder and rape in 2007 but were later released without charge. All deny involvement in Stuart's death. Detectives arrested a 50-year-old suspect in Cheshire in 2021 "in connection with the indecent assault and murder of Stuart", they said. He too was later released without charge. Stuart’s dad Terry, who had campaigned for justice for his son for 20 years, died the following month.

In 2009, the police watchdog found officers missed crucial evidence and did not ensure forensic tests were done until six years later. Barrymore sued Essex police for wrongful arrest but lost the case in the Court of Appeal.

Harry Rutter