Police and firefighters were called to the couple’s home shortly before 05:00 BST after an explosion – likened by neighbours to an “mini-earthquake” – ripped through the property and blew off part of the roof.
George, who was found lying on the kitchen floor covered in blood, then tried to stab himself with a shard of broken glass while Rook lay dead in the living room.
During his trial, George admitted he “lost it” in the aftermath of the attack that he had been furious with his partner for keeping a secret from him.
In his defence, George insisted he did not have a “short fuse”, but Rook’s friends and family of gave evidence of his character.
Her best friend, Sian Davin, told jurors she believed George needed therapy for his anger issues and described an incident when he pushed Rook against a wall and grabbed her throat.
She said he had “unreasonable flashing rage” at times and would fat-shame and gaslight Rook.
In a voice note sent to a friend in May 2025, which was played to the jury, Rook described George becoming angry because she did not clean his knives properly.
“He kept saying things to me [like] you’re a liar, you’re a liar, Annabel,” Rook said in the voice note. She continued: “I can’t not make him angry, it’s always going to happen.”