Barrymore insists he is no 'killer'

DISGRACED entertainer Michael Barrymore yesterday strenuously denied playing any part in the death of a party-goer who was found floating in a swimming pool at his luxury home.

The 50-year-old Strike It Lucky and My Kind of Music host insisted he was not a "killer" and defended himself against drug-taking and perjury accusations.

In his first interview since a coroner recorded an open verdict on the death of Stuart Lubbock, Barrymore said he was "sad and sorry" about what happened and offered to meet the 31-year-old's family to discuss the matter.

He also claimed to have new evidence that the severe internal injuries found on Mr Lubbock's body after his death did not occur while he was at the house.

But he stressed that he was not responsible for the death. and like Mr Lubbock's relatives, he wanted to know exactly what happened.

Barrymore has been criticised for failing to answer questions at the inquest earlier this month. and for leaving his house as paramedics battled to save Mr Lubbock.

He has been urged to respond fully to the allegations, in particular that he rubbed cocaine into the meat factory supervisor's gums and his assertion that he cannot swim despite claims to the contrary by his ex-wife, Cheryl.

Mr Lubbock, who came from Harlow, Essex, was found to be the equivalent of about three times over the legal drink-drive limit and had cocaine and ecstasy in his system after his death on March 31 last year.

Pressed on the drug-taking allegations and evidence that police found cocaine at his home in Roydon, near Harlow, Essex, Barrymore told GMTV he had co-operated "honestly and truthfully" in the investigation.

Barrymore, a recovering alcoholic whose career has been on hold for the last 18 months, said he accepted the situation and was prepared to pay the price, even if it meant being a showbusiness outcast.

"I know one thing. You can call me a lousy entertainer, but you can't call me a killer. I don't care if you call me that. It doesn't matter. It's anybody's choice and when my time's due, when I meet Stuart again, he knows.

"He knows nothing was done to him. Not at my house. And I know."