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Crown Court judge dies in fall Crown Court judge dies in fall
(about 1 hour later)
A Crown Court judge has died after falling 50ft from his home in a block of flats. A Crown Court judge has died after falling 50ft from his home in an exclusive apartment block.
Judge Rodney McKinnon, 64, plunged from the building in Pimlico, south-west London, on Thursday afternoon, police said. Judge Rodney McKinnon, 64, plunged from Drake House in Dolphin Square, Pimlico, in south-west London, on Thursday afternoon, police said.
He was pronounced dead at the scene and the death is not being treated as suspicious. The Southwark Crown Court judge was pronounced dead at the scene. His death is not being treated as suspicious.
The Southwark Crown Court judge lived alone in prestigious Drake House in Dolphin Square. Members of the tenants association where he lived said his death had devastated the community.
Family of judges
The exclusive residence has housed politicians, peers and society figures including General de Gaulle, Princess Anne, Harold Wilson and Christine Keeler.The exclusive residence has housed politicians, peers and society figures including General de Gaulle, Princess Anne, Harold Wilson and Christine Keeler.
A spokesman for the Metropolitan Police said a post-mortem examination was due to be carried out on Tuesday. Mr McKinnon has two brothers who are serving judges, Stuart, a High Court Judge and Warwick, a Circuit Judge and their father was also a judge - His Honour Neil McKinnon QC.
Court cases Mr McKinnon presided over included the sentencing of Juan Carlos Guzman-Betancourt, a prolific burglar who modelled himself on the fictional gentleman jewel thief Raffles.
Everybody is completely devastated that something so awful could have happened in our midst Patricia McVicar, DSTA member
He also jailed David Carey who was caught in an undercover operation attempting to meet a child he had been grooming for sex.
Mr McKinnon was a former vice chairman of the Dolphin Square Tenants' Association (DSTA) where he lived.
A statement on the website paid tribute to the judge who moved into the apartment block about 15 years ago.
DSTA member Patricia McVicar said: "Everybody is completely devastated that something so awful could have happened in our midst."
She described him as a private man who played golf in his leisure time.
Experienced criminal judge
Ms McVicar said: "While living at another address near by, he used to park his car at the Dolphin Square car park until a new rule was introduced limiting its use to residents. Rather than lose the space, he moved into the square."
Brendan Martin, DSTA chairman, praised his service as vice-chairman of the association 10 years ago.
He said: "He was very well known and well liked, particularly among the older residents."
A statement from the Judiciary of England and Wales described Mr McKinnon as an experienced and very able criminal judge as well as an advocate.
"We were very saddened to hear of Judge McKinnon's death.
"He was a lovely, modest man who will be greatly missed by his former colleagues."
A post-mortem examination was due to be carried out on Tuesday.