This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/uk-england-london-16148417
The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
Next version
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Man admits killing lawyer Sonia Burgess at King's Cross station | |
(40 minutes later) | |
A man has admitted killing a leading human rights lawyer by pushing her under a Tube train in central London. | |
Sonia Burgess, 63, died during the rush hour at King's Cross in October 2010. | |
Senthooran Kanagasingham, 35 - who is also known as Nina - pleaded guilty to manslaughter on the basis of diminished responsibility at the Old Bailey. | |
But the prosecution did not accept the plea and Mr Kanagasingham, from Cricklewood, north London, will be tried for murder. | |
The court was told that for the purposes of the trial, he wished to be known by his birth name and his male gender. | |
'Anger and malice' | |
Mr Kanagasingham, who denies murder, claims he was suffering from paranoid schizophrenia at the time. | Mr Kanagasingham, who denies murder, claims he was suffering from paranoid schizophrenia at the time. |
But Brian Altman QC, prosecuting, said: "Significant factors other than any abnormality of mental functioning were at play." | |
He said the prosecution's case was that the killing was "the very deliberate murder of Sonia Burgess" and was "born of anger and malice". | |
The court was told that Mr Kanagasingham had "determined to kill" the victim after they both visited his GP, and she expressed her concerns about his mental health. | |
Just over an hour later, shocked commuters saw Mr Kanagasingham push Ms Burgess on the back. | |
A note found in Mr Kanagasingham's rucksack said he was "broke, depressed and suffering from gender dysphoria". | |
Mr Altman said Ms Burgess had built "an enviable and brilliant reputation" as a solicitor in human rights and immigration law. | |
'Good-looking woman' | |
He said: "The deceased lived as a woman and was known by friends and family as Sonia. | |
"I intend to refer to the deceased throughout as of the female gender because that is the wish of her family." | |
He added that Ms Burgess - formerly known as David Burgess - was "gender variant". | |
"A close friend states that physically Sonia presented as a good-looking, very slim, middle-aged woman," said Mr Altman. | |
"Sonia was caring and generous with her time. She was tolerant of others and she habitually helped others with their problems." | |
Mr Kanagasingham had been going through gender reassignment and "it had been his desire to pass completely as a woman", Mr Altman said. | |
He met Ms Burgess in a bar and was a frequent visitor to her Soho flat, the Old Bailey heard. | |
But Ms Burgess had become wary because she feared the effects of hormones prescribed to Mr Kanagasingham, the court heard. | |
Shortly before her death, Ms Burgess told those close to her that Mr Kanagasingham was becoming psychotic and was "imploding". | |
The trial was adjourned until Tuesday. |
Previous version
1
Next version