Barrymore 'drunk' before pool death
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Your support makes all the difference.Michael Barrymore appeared "shabby" and "drunk" on the night a man was found dead in his swimming pool, an inquest was told yesterday.
Stuart Lubbock's body was found at the television entertainer's house in Roydon, Essex, after an all-night party on 31 March last year. While a post-mortem examination established that he had drowned, the 31-year-old factory supervisor had traces of cocaine and ecstasy in his body and a pathologist has told the inquest at Epping, Essex, that asphyxia and cardiac arrest due to serious sexual assault may also have led to his death.
Yesterday the Essex and Thurrock coroner, Caroline Beasley-Murray, heard from the taxi driver who took Mr Barrymore and three partygoers to the house in the early hours of the morning. "He was walking drunkenly, got into the car and then slouched into the car seat," said Keith Herrett. "Michael Barrymore was very badly the worse for wear. It was my impression that he was in no fit state to do anything but sit in a chair and go to sleep." His two male companions and a female did not appear to know the television presenter, once one of the highest paid in Britain, who had been shouting in the back of the taxi, Mr Herrett said.
Kevin Lubbock, who went out with his brother that night before becoming separated from him in the Millennium nightclub in Harlow, also described Mr Barrymore. "He was wearing a shabby white jumper. He looked terrible, like he'd been throwing up in the loos." Mr Lubbock said his brother had been very affected by pressures at work and not being able to see his two daughters after splitting up with his partner.
The inquest continues.
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