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British police are to launch a new inquiry into the death five years ago of a man whose body was found in a swimming pool at comedian Michael Barrymore's home.
Barrymore, who temporarily moved to New Zealand following the incident, welcomed the possibility of "closure".
The new inquiry follows a routine review of the original investigation.
No one was charged after the death of Stuart Lubbock, 31, who was a party guest at the Essex property. He had internal injuries consistent with a sexual assault.
Meat factory worker Lubbock, was pronounced dead in hospital the morning after he was found at the entertainer's Essex mansion after a party in March 2001.
No charges were brought against Barrymore, 54, but public scandal surrounding the case destroyed his once highly successful TV career.
"I can confirm that Essex police are reopening the investigation into the death of Stuart Lubbock," a police spokeswoman said, adding there would be no further comment.
Barrymore said he welcomed the new inquiry and promised to give every assistance.
"We've asked for this several times before and it's gone so far and then gone away again which was very disappointing," he told Sky News.
He said it had taken an "extraordinary" amount of time to get to a point "to explain things that haven't been explained about the case which need to be investigated, to complete the investigation at least."
Officers announced in April that they were examining the death as part of a routine review of unsolved cases. 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 anal injuries, suggesting he had been the victim of a violent sexual assault.
Lubbock's father Terry, who has long demanded another probe, said he was delighted with the news, adding the police had conceded evidence had been missed in their first investigation.
"I want arrests and I want somebody charged and that will be the goal that I'm seeking," he told Reuters.
He has said he does not blame Barrymore for his son's death but wants the TV star to reveal exactly what he knew.
"I think Michael Barrymore has put himself by his own accord in centre stage and he's got nowhere to run to now, nowhere to hide. He's put himself on the line, he's openly said he wants to find out what happened to my son."
In February, a judge dismissed an attempt by Terry Lubbock to bring a private prosecution against Barrymore, saying there was a lack of evidence.
The Lubbock family lawyer Tony Bennett said the police action came after the family had produced new analysis which indicated that Stuart Lubbock had not drowned or been in Barrymore's swimming pool as was originally believed.
Barrymore left Britain for self-imposed exile in New Zealand in the wake of the negative publicity he received following the death, but made a successful return earlier this year when he appeared in Channel 4's Celebrity Big Brother reality TV show.
- REUTERS
