A jury has been sworn in at Snaresbrook Crown Court for the trial of a man accused of murdering a beloved charity leader and setting her £1.4 million home ablaze. Clifton George, 45, stands accused of fatally stabbing his partner, 46-year-old Annabel Rook, at their residence in north-east London on June 17, 2025.
Details of the Incident
Ms Rook, the daughter of Peter Rook KC, a highly respected and well-liked Old Bailey judge of the past quarter-century, was discovered deceased after police responded to reports of a gas explosion shortly before 5 a.m. The front bay window of the property on Dumont Road, Stoke Newington, was entirely blown out, with debris such as plants, wooden shutters, and glass scattered across the street.
Court Proceedings
On Tuesday, a jury was empaneled at Snaresbrook Crown Court to hear the case against Mr George, who denies the charge of murder. Dressed in a grey suit, white shirt, blue tie, and spectacles, George stood with his hands clasped in front of him in the dock as the jury was selected and sworn in. Prosecutor William Emlyn Jones KC is expected to open the case on Wednesday morning.
Mr Justice Constable stated: 'This is a case concerning a violent incident at an address in Dumont Road, Stoke Newington, Hackney, on June 17 2025, during which a woman named Annabel Rook was killed.' Mr Emlyn Jones read to the jury a list of trial witnesses and individuals connected to the case, identifying Ms Rook's father as 'a retired Crown Court judge'.
Jury Selection
Before being selected for the six-week trial, potential jurors were asked to disclose any association with MamaSuze, the London-based social enterprise supporting refugee and migrant women that Ms Rook co-founded. They were also questioned about close connections with the police, the legal establishment, or the wider criminal justice system. George, who resided at the address, continues to deny the murder charge.
