Images from court have revealed the devastating aftermath of a gas explosion that tore through a North London home after a woman was stabbed to death. The explosion, described as a 'mini earthquake', ripped up floorboards and blew the roof off a kitchen extension at a property in Stoke Newington in June last year.
Details of the Incident
Clifton George, 45, is accused of killing his partner of ten years, Annabel Rook, before starting a fire designed to ignite a gas canister in the basement. George has admitted manslaughter and arson but denies murder on the grounds of 'loss of control'. The trial is ongoing at Snaresbrook Crown Court.
Prosecution's Account
Prosecutor William Emlyn Jones KC told jurors that George is believed to have triggered the blast by setting paper alight on the kitchen hob and carrying it to the basement where a propane gas camping canister was located. He said: 'The basement, where the explosion was, is directly underneath the living room, where Annabel Rook's body was lying. The force of the blast lifted the floorboards, shifted the furniture, and caused significant damage to the property and to the house next door. It also made an almighty bang.'
Neighbors' Experience
Neighbors Rhys Sullivan and Harriet Cosby, who live on Dumont Road, were woken by what Sullivan called 'a massive boom' that felt like a mini-earthquake, shaking the house. The explosion caused cracks in adjoining walls, damage to brickwork, and broken tiles in their bathroom.
Victim's Background
Annabel Rook was the co-founder of MamaSuze, a London-based social enterprise supporting refugee and migrant women through art and drama workshops. Her father, retired Old Bailey judge Peter Rook, is expected to be a key witness in the trial.
Sequence of Events
The court heard that George was 'angry' during a row with Ms Rook, punching and strangling her before inflicting 22 knife wounds, including one to her heart. She is believed to have been dead for several hours when the explosion occurred. George told police he slit his own wrists after the stabbing, causing him to pass out.
The couple's relationship was reportedly deteriorating, and Ms Rook had asked George to move out as part of a trial separation. George claims his partner had 'lied to me', leading to a temporary loss of control during the stabbing. When police arrived, George was found in the garden attempting to stab himself with a shard of glass. He denies murder, and the trial continues.
