By ELEANOR MANN Published: 11:48 BST, 3 October 2025 | Updated: 12:40 BST, 3 October 2025 6 shares
The partner of a much-loved charity boss stabbed her to death and then set her £1.4 million home on fire, a court heard yesterday.Annabel Rook, 46, was a 'truly wonderful' charity co-founder and the daughter of Peter Rook KC, one of the most respected and well-liked Old Bailey judges of the last 25 years.On June 17, just before 5am, her partner Clifton George, 44, killed her and then set himself on fire at her address in Dumont Road, Hackney, north London, the court heard.Police were called to Ms Rook's house along with 40 firefighters after a huge gas explosion, which blew out the front bay window of the property completely and left debris scattered across the street.George denied murder but admitted the lesser alternative charge of manslaughter at Snaresbrook Crown Court yesterday.He also admitted to arson and being reckless as to whether life would be endangered.Prosecutor Nicholas Hearn said: 'The defendant was found in the garden with burns to his head and self-inflicted knife wounds to his arms and neck.'He was asked by the paramedic if there was anyone else in the property. He responded 'my wife, she's dead'.George has been remanded in custody ahead of his four-week murder trial on April 27 2026 'Asked by the same paramedic how he knew she was dead he replied: 'I killed her'.'Paramedics found Ms Rook with multiple stab wounds and she appeared to have been dead for some hours.'A preliminary post-mortem confirmed that she died as a result of the knife wounds she suffered.' Mr Justice Constable remanded George in custody ahead of his four-week murder trial on April 27 2026.Ms Rook was the co-founder of the refugee and women's organisation MamaSuze, an arts-based unit which helps victims of forced displacement and gender-based violence.The victim's family released a tribute, saying: 'Annabel was a truly wonderful woman. She touched the hearts of so many. Annabel Rook co-founded of the refugee and women's organisation MamaSuze, an arts-based unit which helps victims of forced displacement and gender-based violence George denied murder but admitted the lesser alternative charge of manslaughter at Snaresbrook Crown Court yesterday 'She gave her life to helping the vulnerable and the disadvantaged whether it was in refugee camps in Africa or setting up MamaSuze in London, to enhance the lives of survivors of forced displacement and gender-based violence.'MamaSuze said in a statement it was 'devastated by the loss of our beloved co-founder' adding: 'Annabel was a profound force for good in the world, dedicating her working life to supporting women survivors.'John Martin, artistic director of PAN Intercultural Arts, where Ms Rook worked with young refugees for 16 years until 2022, previously described her as 'a larger-than-life character' who joined the charity as a volunteer with lots of energy.In a personal tribute, Mr Martin said earlier this year: 'Annabel's energy brought a lot to the women and gave them new hope.'This was her speciality, I think – a sort of a boundless optimism, a boundless self-confidence, which she transferred onto other people.'
