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| Author Ludovic Kennedy dies at 89 | Author Ludovic Kennedy dies at 89 |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| The author, broadcaster and campaigner Sir Ludovic Kennedy has died aged 89. | The author, broadcaster and campaigner Sir Ludovic Kennedy has died aged 89. |
| A former BBC Panorama journalist, Sir Ludovic spent decades investigating miscarriages of justice, including the case of the Birmingham Six. | A former BBC Panorama journalist, Sir Ludovic spent decades investigating miscarriages of justice, including the case of the Birmingham Six. |
| He contributed to the abolition of the death penalty and was also president of the Voluntary Euthanasia Society. | He contributed to the abolition of the death penalty and was also president of the Voluntary Euthanasia Society. |
| He is understood to have died on Sunday at a nursing home in Salisbury, Wiltshire, after contracting pneumonia. He leaves four children. | He is understood to have died on Sunday at a nursing home in Salisbury, Wiltshire, after contracting pneumonia. He leaves four children. |
| Edinburgh-born Sir Ludovic was a prominent supporter of the British Humanist Association (BHA) and chief executive Hanne Stinson paid tribute to him. | Edinburgh-born Sir Ludovic was a prominent supporter of the British Humanist Association (BHA) and chief executive Hanne Stinson paid tribute to him. |
| "Sir Ludovic was a stalwart supporter of the BHA and a progressive campaigner on many fronts. He will be sorely missed," she said. | "Sir Ludovic was a stalwart supporter of the BHA and a progressive campaigner on many fronts. He will be sorely missed," she said. |
| Executions | Executions |
| As a young man, Sir Ludovic joined the Royal Navy and his ship HMS Tartar was involved in the sinking of the German battleship Bismarck. | As a young man, Sir Ludovic joined the Royal Navy and his ship HMS Tartar was involved in the sinking of the German battleship Bismarck. |
| Ludovic Kennedy was one of the great thinkers of his generation Nick CleggLib Dem leader Obituary: Sir Ludovic Kennedy | |
| After the war, he attended Oxford University and went on to become a successful journalist. | After the war, he attended Oxford University and went on to become a successful journalist. |
| During his career, he carried out his own investigations into a number of high-profile criminal cases. | During his career, he carried out his own investigations into a number of high-profile criminal cases. |
| Among them was that of Derek Bentley who was hanged for shooting dead a policeman even though someone else pulled the trigger. | |
| His most famous book, 10 Rillington Place, caused a national outcry when it argued that another executed man, Timothy Evans, did not murder his baby daughter. | His most famous book, 10 Rillington Place, caused a national outcry when it argued that another executed man, Timothy Evans, did not murder his baby daughter. |
| Sir Ludovic maintained that the serial killer John Christie was responsible, and after a police inquiry, Evans was granted a posthumous pardon in 1970. | Sir Ludovic maintained that the serial killer John Christie was responsible, and after a police inquiry, Evans was granted a posthumous pardon in 1970. |
| 'Pursuit of justice' | 'Pursuit of justice' |
| For much of his life, Sir Ludovic was a member of the Liberal Democrat Party and stood unsuccessfully as a Liberal candidate in 1958. | For much of his life, Sir Ludovic was a member of the Liberal Democrat Party and stood unsuccessfully as a Liberal candidate in 1958. |
| He quit the party in 2001 when the then leader Charles Kennedy refused to endorse assisted dying, and stood for Parliament again unsuccessfully as an independent candidate on a pro-euthanasia platform. | He quit the party in 2001 when the then leader Charles Kennedy refused to endorse assisted dying, and stood for Parliament again unsuccessfully as an independent candidate on a pro-euthanasia platform. |
| He was a passionate advocate of assisted dying for terminally ill people Sarah WoottonDignity in Dying | |
| He later rejoined the Lib Dems and current leader Nick Clegg paid tribute to him on Monday. | He later rejoined the Lib Dems and current leader Nick Clegg paid tribute to him on Monday. |
| "Ludovic Kennedy was one of the great thinkers of his generation," he said. | "Ludovic Kennedy was one of the great thinkers of his generation," he said. |
| "His pursuit of justice and his championing of sometimes unpopular and controversial causes marked him out as a true liberal. He will be greatly missed." | "His pursuit of justice and his championing of sometimes unpopular and controversial causes marked him out as a true liberal. He will be greatly missed." |
| Sarah Wootton, chief executive of Dignity in Dying - formerly the Voluntary Euthanasia Society - said the organisation was saddened to hear of Sir Ludovic's death. | Sarah Wootton, chief executive of Dignity in Dying - formerly the Voluntary Euthanasia Society - said the organisation was saddened to hear of Sir Ludovic's death. |
| "He was a passionate advocate of assisted dying for terminally ill people, whose compassion and vigorous intellect were an asset to the organisation," she said. | "He was a passionate advocate of assisted dying for terminally ill people, whose compassion and vigorous intellect were an asset to the organisation," she said. |
| "As a former president, he helped to lay the foundation for the recent successes of the campaign, with the director of public prosecutions now formally recognising a difference between compassionate and malicious behaviour, and the change in the law which will inevitably come." | "As a former president, he helped to lay the foundation for the recent successes of the campaign, with the director of public prosecutions now formally recognising a difference between compassionate and malicious behaviour, and the change in the law which will inevitably come." |
| Sir Ludovic married ballet dancer and actress Moira Shearer in 1950 and the marriage endured until her death in January 2006 at the age of 80. The couple had one son and three daughters. | Sir Ludovic married ballet dancer and actress Moira Shearer in 1950 and the marriage endured until her death in January 2006 at the age of 80. The couple had one son and three daughters. |
| What are your memories of Sir Ludovic Kennedy? Did you meet or work with him? What is his legacy to the media world? | What are your memories of Sir Ludovic Kennedy? Did you meet or work with him? What is his legacy to the media world? |
| The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |