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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
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| Crown Court judge dies in fall | Crown Court judge dies in fall |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A Crown Court judge has died after falling 50ft from his home in an exclusive apartment block. | A Crown Court judge has died after falling 50ft from his home in an exclusive apartment block. |
| Judge Rodney McKinnon, 64, plunged from Drake House in Dolphin Square, Pimlico, in 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. |
| The Southwark Crown Court judge was pronounced dead at the scene. His 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. |
| Members of the tenants association where he lived said his death had devastated the community. | Members of the tenants association where he lived said his death had devastated the community. |
| Family of judges | 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. |
| Mr McKinnon was appointed as a Circuit Judge in 1998, having originally been called to the Bar in 1967. | |
| He 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. | 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 | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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." | 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. | She described him as a private man who played golf in his leisure time. |
| Experienced criminal judge | 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." | 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. | 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." | 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. | 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. | "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." | "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. | A post-mortem examination was due to be carried out on Tuesday. |