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The father of man found dead in a swimming pool owned by prominent entertainer Michael Barrymore was on Tuesday considering an offer of compensation as he vowed to continue seeking answers to his son's death.
Terry Lubbock said he had been offered 6,800 pounds in criminal injuries compensation almost seven years after his son, Stuart, a meat factory worker, was found dead at Barrymore's Essex home after a party.
Post mortem tests indicated Lubbock had drowned and an inquest recorded an open verdict on his death.
The coroner said he had been found with drugs and alcohol in his system and with serious injuries, which suggested he had been the victim of a violent sexual assault.
Speaking to Reuters late Tuesday, Terry Lubbock, 63, of Harlow, Essex, said he was discussing the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority compensation offer with his lawyers, which he said might lead to a claim for more money over a brain bleed he suffered three years ago.
"Their offer is being checked over by my lawyers and I will be guided by what they do," he said in a telephone interview.
"It is not secret that I was very ill three years back and that might, it might not ... have a bearing on my injury claim due to the fact that I suffered the illness, due to the stress and worry. But that will be up to my lawyers."
Barrymore's lawyer has denied all claims his client was involved in the death of 31-year-old Lubbock.
Lubbock has refused to accept the death was an accident and has campaigned for the case to be re-examined.
He said the money, if accepted, would be used to help pay for his lawyers and to "enable me to get some answers and some justice for my son", who he added was "murdered".
"It has been a long road but I do think we are turning a corner now," he said. "I am not going to rest until I see someone appearing in court over my son's injuries.
"It is not over yet."
A spokesman for the CICA refused to discuss the case's detail. But in a statement, he said that in order for any payment to be made it had to be "satisfied that, on the balance of probability, a crime of violence has taken place".
He added there was a "lower burden of proof than that required by a criminal court" to secure a conviction.
Barrymore, 55, and the two other men, Justin Merritt and Jonathan Kenny, returned to an Essex police station in September to answer further questions after being arrested in June on suspicion of murder and serious sexual assault.
But the CPS later recommended that Barrymore, the former host of ITV gameshow "Strike It Lucky", should face no charges.
No one else has been charged over the incident.
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