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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. | |
| 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. | 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. Their father was also a judge - His Honour Neil McKinnon QC. | He has two brothers who are serving judges, Stuart, a High Court Judge and Warwick, a Circuit Judge. Their father was also a judge - His Honour Neil McKinnon QC. |
| In a tribute at Southwark Crown Court attended by Judge Warwick McKinnon and other members of the legal profession and court staff, Judge Geoffrey Rivlin QC said Judge McKinnon "shouldered some of the most demanding work at this court". | In a tribute at Southwark Crown Court attended by Judge Warwick McKinnon and other members of the legal profession and court staff, Judge Geoffrey Rivlin QC said Judge McKinnon "shouldered some of the most demanding work at this court". |
| Legal family | |
| "He was wedded to the law and his work as a judge, as perhaps might be expected of a member of such a remarkable legal family, he added. | "He was wedded to the law and his work as a judge, as perhaps might be expected of a member of such a remarkable legal family, he added. |
| Judge Rivlin added that Judge McKinnon, a man of "impish, joyous and self-deprecating" humour, would also be missed for his generosity, warm-heartedness, modesty and friendship. | Judge Rivlin added that Judge McKinnon, a man of "impish, joyous and self-deprecating" humour, would also be missed for his generosity, warm-heartedness, modesty and friendship. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 'Completely devastated' | |
| 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." |
| 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. |
| A post-mortem examination was due to be carried out on Tuesday. | A post-mortem examination was due to be carried out on Tuesday. |