She supplied her accomplice £50,000 to begin a brand new life. As an alternative, he brutally murdered her
Mum-of-two Annabel Rook, 46, (Picture: -)
A retired Outdated Bailey decide warned home abuse victims to “get out” earlier than making an attempt to finish an abusive relationship, because the killer of his “unbelievably courageous” daughter was jailed for all times. Charity employee Annabel Rook, 46, was stabbed to dying in the lounge of her own residence by Clifton George, 45, who erupted in a livid rage as she tried to finish their 10-year-relationship.
Snaresbrook Crown Court docket heard how George had a brief fuse and would lose his mood at trivial issues and perceived slights, usually taking his anger out on Ms Rook. Her father, retired Decide Peter Rook, described his daughter as altruistic, non-judgmental and “one of many world’s nice life enhancers”, and says he believes she caught with George regardless of his failings as a result of she wished to assist him. Mr Rook and his spouse Susanna revealed the character and scale of George’s abuse was saved hidden, they usually solely realized the extent of their daughter’s struggling after her dying when it was specified by proof at trial.
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Clifton George (Picture: Metropolitan Police/PA Wire)
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Mrs Rook stated: “He was all the time very cautious to not present us how offended he might get.”
George murdered Ms Rook on the evening of June 16 final 12 months at their house in Stoke Newington, punching and throttling her earlier than arming himself with a kitchen knife and stabbing her 31 occasions. He then tried to explode the home however survived the blast.
The killing got here after their relationship had damaged down. Ms Rook had recommended a trial separation and informed George he ought to transfer out of the house. She even supplied him £50,000 to begin his new life, however as an alternative he brutally murdered her.
Mr Rook stated his daughter’s dying was a devastating illustration of how in home abuse circumstances the “most harmful time might be when there’s going to be the separation, as a result of if somebody’s a controlling persona that’s more likely to trigger them to react strongly – in the event that they understand they’re going to lose the individual they’re controlling”.
Requested what they’d advise victims of home abuse, Mrs Rook stated merely: “Get out – nevertheless laborious it’s, end up a secure place. After which take care of him from afar.”
The broken home (Picture: Crown Prosecution Service/PA Wire)
Mr Rook stated in hindsight he would have informed his daughter to go away the house and name in legal professionals as quickly as she knew the connection was over, including: “Don’t take the course that Annabel did, which was unbelievably courageous, however don’t. The dangers are simply too excessive.”
After being raised in north London, Annabel educated within the dramatic arts earlier than turning her consideration to serving to others.
She spent six months working in refugee camps in Ghana, serving to folks fleeing battle in Liberia, after which had a spell instructing in Uganda.
Again within the UK, Ms Rook ran workshops for arts organisation Pan Intercultural Arts, helped to arrange the award-winning Amies Freedom Choir for girls who’re victims of trafficking, and in 2021 she and her long-time buddy Catherine Milne arrange the social enterprise MamaSuze.
Collectively, they’ve helped girls and youngsters refugees, asylum seekers and migrants by weekly inventive arts workshops and the creation of a supportive neighborhood.
The MamaSuze neighborhood have been “shattered” by information of Ms Rook’s dying, stated her mom, and Ms Milne stated they’ve supported one another by the tragedy.
Annabel Rook (Picture: household Handout/PA Wire)
“I feel she felt that she’d had a beautiful life herself and he or she wished to share that and assist different individuals who hadn’t been so fortunate,” stated Mrs Rook.
Mr Rook added: “She had the flexibility to get on with plenty of totally different folks, regardless that these totally different folks won’t get on famously nicely collectively.
“It’s a uncommon capability.
“She was all the time pushed, all the time wanting to assist folks. And that may be her legacy.”
Household and pals of Ms Rook attended every single day of George’s four-week lengthy trial after he denied murdering his accomplice and tried to steer the jury that he doesn’t have a fiery mood.
The courtroom heard how George had been welcomed into the Rook household after shifting into Ms Rook’s house.
Clifton George in courtroom (Picture: Elizabeth Prepare dinner/PA Wire)
Mrs Rook stated: “We had household events, and we did Christmas collectively, and he or she really reintroduced him to his household, as a result of he had two brothers that he wasn’t actually in contact with, and he or she bought maintain of them and bought them collectively once more, and the dad.
“We simply thought he was humorous, and joined in with issues, and if he bought fed up with the dialog, he’d simply exit and go some place else.
“We have been actually welcoming as a result of she cherished him.”
Mr Rook, who gave proof on the trial, stated they knew nothing of George’s controlling behaviour and offended outbursts.
He stated of his time within the witness field: “It’s extraordinarily troublesome being the guardian of a deceased in a homicide case and I all the time knew it was going to be troublesome – I’d seen different mother and father in circumstances that I’ve tried over years.
“However I suppose the cliche applies, nothing ever prepares you for it till you do it your self.”
Mrs Rook recalled her daughter, shortly earlier than she died, being “completely decided” she wouldn’t depart her house if she and George broke up.
“I bear in mind her standing in her backyard, I feel the final time I used to be spherical there, simply saying ‘I like this place, Mum’,” she stated.
She added that Ms Rook shared particulars of George’s troubled childhood in order that they’d perceive his temperament higher, and “she saved saying ‘Don’t fear, I’ll type it’.
“She had this unimaginable confidence that issues would come proper, with love and help.”
Her father stated his daughter “was too brave for her personal good”, and branded George “totally egocentric, completely self-absorbed”.
He added: “Annabel was a very great lady. One of many world’s life enhancers. Above all else, she was a a lot cherished mom dedicated to her two positive sons. She was additionally an excellent daughter, sister, and for therefore many, a detailed buddy. Satirically, she was on the peak of her powers in her tireless work to assist weak girls. She had a lot extra to offer.
“At the least now there was justice. However nothing will convey her again. We are able to make certain that her spirit will proceed to encourage so many. Throughout the trial, it has been virtually insufferable listening to the years she herself suffered abuse after which the character of the horrendous assault.
the aftermath of the blast George triggered (Picture: Crown Prosecution Service/PA Wire)
“It’s so essential that good women and men who encounter misogyny and, particularly, males who’re violent or controlling in direction of their companions, ought to have the braveness to name them out. There are methods it may be accomplished with sensitivity. They need to do it, even when they threat being ostracised by their friends.
“It’s also vital that’s extensively recognized that essentially the most harmful time for a sufferer in an abusive relationship is when she tries to go away. It was clear on the proof that till the very finish, Annabel was extremely brave, making an attempt to assist others fairly than safeguarding herself.”
George claimed he killed Annabel after shedding management however within the ensuing investigation, detectives have been capable of uncover the abuse she had endured by figuring out and private notes on her cell phone, alongside lots of of messages and voice notes. This work recognized a latest decline within the relationship, alongside a deterioration in George’s abuse.
The Met and Annabel’s household are actually utilizing the tragedy to spotlight the difficulty of home abuse, and urging victim-survivors, or anybody who believes a cherished one is experiencing such abuse, to come back ahead and report it to police. They are saying doing so might save a life.
Det Ch Supt Brittany Clarke, who leads policing in Hackney and Tower Hamlets, stated: “Annabel Rook was a much-loved mom, daughter, sister and buddy. She was additionally an lively and well-known member of the Stoke Newington neighborhood who devoted her life to supporting weak girls. Her loss has been deeply felt by many individuals throughout the native space and past.
“I want to pay tribute to the detectives and specialist officers who labored tirelessly to make sure George was jailed for this horrible crime.
“Tackling violence towards girls and women stays one of many Met’s highest priorities. My message to anybody experiencing home abuse is easy: please come ahead. You can be listened to, you’ll be taken critically, and we’ll do every part we will to guard and help you.
“Nothing can undo the immense loss suffered by Annabel’s family members, however I hope Clifton’s sentence offers a measure of consolation for Annabel’s family members and demonstrates our dedication to pursue those that commit these appalling crimes.”
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