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LONDON - The Crown Prosecution Service recommended last night that no charges be brought against entertainer Michael Barrymore and two other men over the death of Stuart Lubbock because of insufficient evidence.
Lubbock, a meat factory worker, was found dead at Barrymore's Essex home six years ago.
Chris McCann, complex casework lawyer with Essex CPS, said in a statement: "I am not satisfied that the prosecution can overcome the objections that are likely to be raised and so I have decided that there is insufficient evidence for a realistic prospect of conviction against the three individuals."
He added: "There is still no answer in either the scientific or medical evidence how or by whose hand Mr Lubbock died."
Barrymore, 55, and the two other men, Justin Merritt and Jonathan Kenny, had returned to Essex police station on Monday to answer further questions after being arrested in June on suspicion of murder and serious sexual assault.
Police were granted a further 12 hours to question Barrymore, the former host of ITV gameshow "Strike It Lucky".
But all three were released from bail at about 2:15 p.m. after the CPS said they would not bring charges.
Senior investigating officer Det Supt Gareth Wilson said in a statement: "We want to make it very clear that this is not the end of the investigation."
He went on to say he was disappointed the latest inquiry "has not brought the answers police and Stuart's family are looking for", but he remained committed to finding the truth of what happened that night.
Barrymore's lawyer has denied allegations his client was involved in the death of 31-year-old Lubbock.
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.
Lubbock's father Terry has refused to accept the death was an accident and has campaigned for the case to be re-examined.
In December last year, detectives said they would reopen their investigation, following a review.
Terry Lubbock told Reuters on Sunday he would continue his campaign if no charges were brought.
"If I don't get the charges I want - murder, rape and perverting the course of justice - my campaign is still going to roll," he said.
The scandal surrounding Lubbock's death destroyed Barrymore's once successful TV career.
He left Britain for self-imposed exile in New Zealand but made a successful return in 2006 when he appeared in Channel 4's "Celebrity Big Brother" reality TV show.
- REUTERS
