An individual described as “angry” allegedly fatally stabbed his partner and caused a gas explosion at their residence in east London, as revealed in court. Clifton George, aged 45, is accused of the murder of 46-year-old Annabel Rook following a dispute at their address on Dumont Road, Stoke Newington, on June 17, 2025.
During the court proceedings at Snaresbrook Crown Court, George reportedly admitted to causing Rook’s death by pleading guilty to manslaughter. However, he refutes the allegation of murdering Ms. Rook. The prosecution, led by William Emlyn Jones KC, stated that the incident occurred amidst the couple’s deteriorating relationship, leading to George formulating a plan to end his own life and destroy the house.
Allegedly, George retrieved a knife from the kitchen and proceeded to stab Ms. Rook in the living room, displaying intense anger and distress afterward. He then initiated a fire in the residence, igniting a gas canister and resulting in a substantial explosion that damaged the property and alarmed neighbors.
According to the prosecutor, George engaged in a physical altercation with Ms. Rook, which escalated to him punching and attempting to strangle her before ultimately resorting to the fatal stabbing. The court was informed that Ms. Rook, the daughter of retired Old Bailey judge Peter Rook, was discovered with multiple stab wounds post-explosion, while George was found outside, critically injured and attempting self-harm with broken glass.
The prosecutor highlighted that George confessed to the act, acknowledging his responsibility for Rook’s death. Despite the absence of a marital bond, the couple had cohabited for over ten years, with George’s admission of manslaughter not yet accepted, as he faces the murder charge. The court is tasked with investigating the circumstances leading to the tragic event, focusing on the couple’s strained relationship and the events preceding the fatal stabbing.
Evidence from family, friends, as well as digital communications retrieved from their phones, will reportedly shed light on the dynamics of their relationship. George maintains his innocence of murder while admitting to manslaughter. The trial is ongoing.
