Man accused of killing judge’s daughter and blowing up home denies having ‘short fuse’

Annabel Rook, 46, was killed at her terrace house in Hackney, North London just before 5am on June 17
(Picture: PA)

A man accused of stabbing to death his girlfriend and blowing up their home has claimed he suffered racist abuse, alleging her family’s black fish was named after him, a court heard.

Clifton George, 45, stabbed to death charity worker Annabel Rook, 46, at their home in Dumont Road, Stoke Newington, north London, before starting a fire which triggered a gas canister blast.

George admits manslaughter and arson, but has denied murder and blames the killing on a loss of self-control.

The court has heard that Ms Rook told friends and family that she was considering leaving George, and sh...