Mark Saunders, a family law/divorce barrister it seems, was killed in a shoot out with armed police in London. It all happened near Geeklawyer’s old flat in the Kings Road as it happens, nice area but if there is much more gun-play people will presumably migrate to somewhere less dangerous; Peckham, say.
It seems that he was having a bit of a totty tiff with his wife and decided to take pot shots at the neighbours with a shotgun. Despite, or perhaps because of?, being an ex-member of the territorial army he didn’t even manage to hit anyone. Still, it gave SO13 a fun day out.
Best quote of the day about him:
“His entry in Chambers & Partners Guide to the Legal Profession said: “Mark Saunders enters the up-and-coming category after a volley of praise.”
Chambers will perhaps amend it now to add:
“but he departed it after a volley of bullets.” (Too soon?)
Geeklawyer decided not to use his “Random Fire” blog tag for this story: one must be sensitive.
I met Jane Winkworth — the neighbour who was shot at — about ten years ago in Portugal on a holiday. Excellent woman — very feisty then and, it seems, still is. Pretty sure it is the same Jane Winkworth from the context / report. Small world.
Made a very good bloody Mary and had a robust attitude to holidays and life.
Curious business this matter. Tragic all round — for the guy, his family and the policemen deployed to deal with the incident.
One would think drugs, drink and / or serious pre existing mental health condition have a part to play here.
Will the ‘friends’ who’ve rushed to tell the press about his alcoholism be the same people who refereed his firearms licence application? Hmm, I’ve signed a couple of those, being rural and all…
And the fact that he seemed to be struggling to live up to a life of high expectation and had to hide that I feel.
PS: Geeky now you’ve finished JR can you please get back to flirting with me?
Please?
I havent finished the case, merely one preparatory part. But OK, if you are feeling neglected …
This is just a rehearsal for the Connaught St massacre-barrister with delusions gunned down by armed plod.