Electrician guilty of murdering partner and blowing up their London home | UK criminal justice

A man who fatally stabbed his partner and then set off a gas explosion at their north-east London home last summer has been found guilty of her murder.

Clifton George, 45, had denied murdering Annabel Rook, a 46-year-old charity founder, during an argument at their home in Stoke Newington on 17 June 2025.

He admitted manslaughter, claiming he had lost self-control when he punched, throttled and ultimately stabbed Rook, but denied the murder charge.

But on Wednesday, at the end of a four-week trial, the jury at Snaresbrook crown court convicted George of murder.

The trial concluded that George’s defence could not be relied on thanks to “overwhelming” evidence of his short temper and a pattern of abuse towards Rook, according to the prosecutor, William Emlyn Jones KC.

The court heard how George had punched and tried to strangle Rook during an argument. He then repeatedly stabbed her with a kitchen knife, the prosecution said.

“He lost his temper, and in his rage … he murdered Annabel,” Jones told the court. The court was told that George was an aggressive and bullying partner who was prone to angry outbursts over trivial matters.

Rook, who had worked on creating safehouses for women fleeing violence and had co-founded MamaSuze, which supports refugee women, was stabbed at least 22 times, including through the heart, the court was told.

George, an electrician, then opened the valve of a propane gas canister, left all the gas rings on in the house, and started a fire in the basement, jurors were told.

The resulting explosion “made an almighty bang” and lifted floorboards, shifted furniture and caused significant damage to the property and to the house next door, the court heard.

Police and firefighters rushed to the couple’s home in Dumont Road, Stoke Newington, at just before 5am on 17 June last year after the explosion – likened by neighbours to an “mini earthquake” – ripped through the property and blew off part of the roof.

In a police interview, George said he had “lost it” when Rook said their 10-year relationship was over.

His lawyers ran a defence of loss of self-control. On Tuesday, Judge Constable KC told jurors that George could not rely under law on that defence.

Rook had previously vowed to leave her abusive partner, the court heard, but had not followed through with the promise. She had previously confided in her family and friends about his outbursts, describing living with him as like “walking on eggshells”.

“The only possible conclusion on the evidence is that Clifton George was clearly ready and capable of unreasonable flash-rage anger,” the judge said.

When the guilty verdict was given, George reportedly showed little emotion, while friends of Rook watching from the viewers gallery broke down.

“She touched the hearts of so many,” her family said. “She gave her life to helping the vulnerable and the disadvantaged.”

George remains in custody and is due to be sentenced on 9 June.