Clifton George, 45, has been found guilty of murdering his partner Annabel Rook, 46, in a frenzied attack at their home in Stoke Newington, north London. The electrician stabbed Ms Rook 31 times during an argument after she said their 10-year relationship should end. He then started a fire in the basement to cause a gas canister explosion that ripped through the house, likened by neighbours to a 'mini earthquake'.
Ms Rook, a charity worker and co-founder of social enterprise MamaSuze, was the daughter of retired Old Bailey judge Peter Rook. The court heard that George punched, throttled and stabbed her on the night of June 16 last year. After the murder, he triggered the gas explosion, which blew off part of the roof. George was found lying on the kitchen floor covered in blood and tried to stab himself with a shard of glass while Ms Rook lay dead in the living room.
George denied murder at Snaresbrook Crown Court, claiming loss of self control as a partial defence. However, the jury convicted him last week after hearing evidence of his 'short fuse' and angry outbursts. Friends and family testified that George had 'unreasonable flashing rage anger', would fat-shame and gaslight Ms Rook, and had a tendency to over-react about trivial matters. In 2023, Ms Rook confided in her father that living with George was like 'walking on eggshells'.
Prosecutor William Emlyn Jones KC said that during the fatal argument, George punched Ms Rook, tried to strangle her, then got a knife from the kitchen and stabbed her to death. George, who had been drinking red wine, attempted to portray Ms Rook as the abuser, despite 'overwhelming' evidence of his controlling and volatile behaviour. He will receive a life sentence from Mr Justice Constable KC on Tuesday.
CPS prosecutor Catherine Gould said: 'Our thoughts are with the family and loved ones of Annabel Rook. It is devastating that her life was taken in such a violent manner.'
