BBC NEWS Americas Africa Europe Middle East South Asia Asia Pacific North Midlands/East West/South-West London/South North Midlands/East West/South-West London/South
BBCi NEWS   SPORT   WEATHER   WORLD SERVICE   A-Z INDEX     

BBC News World Edition
 You are in: UK: England  
News Front Page
Africa
Americas
Asia-Pacific
Europe
Middle East
South Asia
UK
England
N Ireland
Scotland
Wales
Politics
Education
Business
Entertainment
Science/Nature
Technology
Health
-------------
Talking Point
-------------
Country Profiles
In Depth
-------------
Programmes
-------------
BBC Sport
BBC Weather
SERVICES
-------------
EDITIONS
Friday, 31 May, 2002, 04:25 GMT 05:25 UK
Wife arrested over judge's death
Police tape
Mrs Chubb is being questioned by Somerset Police
The widow of a judge who was killed in an explosion at his home has been questioned by police.

Jennifer Chubb was released on bail on Thursday evening by detectives at Bridgwater police station in Somerset.

Her husband, 58-year-old Andrew Chubb died in July 2001 in a fire in a wooden garage at their home in Leigh, near Chard.

An inquest in December 2001 recorded a verdict of accidental death.

Police bail

Mrs Chubb, a mother-of-three, was arrested on Wednesday by Avon and Somerset Police in connection with the death.

She was released on police bail, and returned to the police station on Thursday for further questioning before being released again.

No charges have been brought against her.

Judge Chubb, who appeared as junior counsel in the prosecution of Gloucester serial killer Rosemary West, had told his wife of 34 years he wanted a divorce.

An hour later he went outside to a garage where lawnmowers and petrol were stored.

Mrs Chubb told the inquest at Wells in Somerset she then saw the garage explode.

Evidence burnt

The inquest heard neither Mrs Chubb nor her husband had ever considered the garage a fire hazard, and Mrs Chubb had "no idea" what caused the explosion.

Somerset fire investigation officers found the intensity of the fire had destroyed clues about its cause.

Coroner Tony Williams rejected possible verdicts of suicide or unlawful killing.

But Judge Chubb's mistress Kerry Sparrow described the result as "absolute rubbish", and threatened to refer the decision to the Home Office.

See also:

12 Dec 01 | England
Links to more England stories are at the foot of the page.


 E-mail this story to a friend

Links to more England stories

© BBC ^^ Back to top

News Front Page | Africa | Americas | Asia-Pacific | Europe | Middle East |
South Asia | UK | Business | Entertainment | Science/Nature |
Technology | Health | Talking Point | Country Profiles | In Depth |
Programmes