STOKE NEWINGTON — Clifton George, 45, was found guilty of murdering Annabel Rook at their home in Stoke Newington on 17 June 2025 following a four-week trial at Snaresbrook Crown Court in east London. The jury convicted George after hearing evidence that he repeatedly stabbed Rook with a kitchen knife at least 22 times, including through the heart.
George admitted to punching, throttling, and stabbing Rook but denied murder, claiming loss of self-control after she told him their 10-year relationship was over. In a police interview, he said he had “lost it” when Rook ended their relationship. Judge Constable KC instructed jurors that George could not legally rely on the defense of loss of self-control.
Prosecutor William Emlyn Jones KC told the court the defense could not be relied on due to evidence of George’s short temper and pattern of abuse toward Rook. Judge Constable KC said, “The only possible conclusion on the evidence is that Clifton George was clearly ready and capable of unreasonable flash-rage anger.”
After the stabbing, George opened the valve of a propane gas canister, left all the gas rings on, and started a fire in the basement, causing an explosion. Police and firefighters responded to the explosion on Dumont Road just before 5 a.m. on 17 June 2025. The blast lifted floorboards, shifted furniture, caused damage to the property, and damaged the house next door.
Rook, 46, was a charity founder who co-founded MamaSuze, which supports refugee women, and had worked on creating safehouses for women fleeing violence. She had previously vowed to leave George but had not followed through.
When the guilty verdict was delivered, George reportedly showed little emotion, while friends of Rook watching from the gallery broke down. George, an electrician, is due to be sentenced on 9 June.