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Ieyasu Tokugawa
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Transgender human rights lawyer who died after being 'pushed' under Tube train was working as an escort
By Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated at 3:14 PM on 29th October 2010
A renowned human rights lawyer allegedly pushed to his death under a Tube train was living a secret life as a transsexual escort. David Burgess, 63, who was also known as Sonia, offered his services on a website, where he advertised himself as a 'pre-op' transsexual escort looking for paid encounters with men. Mr Burgess was killed instantly when he was hit by a train at King's Cross Underground station during rush hour on Monday evening. A 34-year-old woman, Nina Kanagasingham, has been charged with his murder.
Killed: David Burgess, also known as Sonia, died under a Tube train at King's Cross station on Monday evening. A woman has been charged with his murder.
Mr Burgess, who had two adult daughters and a son by his ex-wife, was a senior partner in his firm, with more than 40 years’ experience in immigration law. He had brought human rights cases against North Korea. His family knew him as both Sonia and David. Mr Burgess had been dressing in women's clothing for four years and had set up profiles on two transgender websites as Sonia Jardiniere.
On the website Birchplace, which bills itself as a 'lifestyle fetish community', the solicitor advertised himself as an escort and posted several photographs of himself as a woman, describing himself as having a 'party doll' personality. His page was titled 'Sonia (escort) - TV - London and he described himself as a private Capricorn, slim, brown-eyed and ironic.
Under the heading 'things I like', he wrote: 'Fashion, makeup, shopping, romance, Look magazine, romantic films and most guys but let’s not forget girls a guy is for 40mns [though maybe the next one will fall in love with me...] but a wardrobe is for a season.' Under his dislikes he states: 'Not many, really. Unkindness.'
Other users of the site responded positively to Mr Burgess's page, writing, 'Hot stuff', 'absolutely gorgeous', 'my dream date', 'we just have to meet', 'you sound like fun', 'very sexy' and 'fancy a s**g?' On another transgender website, Mr Burgess wrote he was seeking 'mature admirers' and was looking for casual and serious relationships.
Distinguished career: Mr Burgess as a young man, top, and pictured 11 years ago
'A loving and wondeful person': The victim left behind two grown-up daughters and a son. His family and friends were aware of his two identities.
News of his death has led to several tributes from fellow members. Suzanne Clare, a 'crossdresser from London', posted: 'I feel devastated by the meaningless destruction of a loving and gifted person. I am proud to have been one of her friends - her passing will always leave a void in my life.'
Mr Burgess is reported to have lived with a 33-year-old Oriental man at his Soho flat.
Miss Kanagasingham, of Cricklewood, North London, yesterday appeared at City of Westminster magistrates’ court charged with murder. Police are investigating how the pair knew each other. Mr Burgess’s identity was only revealed after the court refused pleas by the police and Crown Prosecution Service to keep it secret.
According to the Evening Standard, he had been married to Youdon Lhamo, a former client who was a Tibetan asylum seeker. They are believed to have divorced in 2006. Ms Lhamo lives in Scotland. His former wife and children said in a statement: ‘Sonia (David) was a loving and wonderful person and will be missed deeply. We would appreciate being given space to come to terms with our loss.’
A spokesman for his firm, Luqmani Thompson and Partners, said: ‘[He was] an enormously talented practitioner, an inspiration to a generation of lawyers practising in this field, and a great friend. ‘He was a pioneer in setting legal tests and trends in genuinely trailblazing cases. ‘We shall not be the same firm without him.’ Miss Kanagasingham yesterday appeared at Westminster Magistrates Court charged with Mr Burgess's murder. She spoke only to confirm her name and date of birth at the brief hearing.
Death: The scene at King's Cross Tube station after the incident
King's Cross Station: The Picadilly Line was closed for hours on Monday evening, causing chaos for commuters making their way home.
There was no application for bail and she was remanded in custody to appear at the Old Bailey. Mr Burgess had worked for his law firm in Wood Green, north London, having previously been senior partner at the renowned immigration firm, Winstanley Burgess Solicitors. His work since the 1970s had led to significant judgments in the House of Lords, the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg and the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg.
A citation on his employer's website said his abilities 'bring an added depth to our firm'. He had been involved in cases regarding fair trials in foreign countries, people facing exclusion from the Refugee Convention, civil claims against the Ministry of Defence for unlawful detention, as well as country guidance casework on North Korea.
A commendation by London barrister Raza Hussain Q.C. reads: 'David Burgess was a partner in the firm Winstanley Burgess Solicitors, the gold standard immigration law firm in the 1990s. 'He was responsible for what was described by Professor Sir William Wade as the most important constitutional case for centuries (M v. Home Office), which began with David's attendance out of hours before a Duty Judge challenging the unlawful removal of his client to Zaire.
'M Orders' have entered the lexicon of public law. David had personal conduct of the evidential aspect of the argument in Chahal v UK, perhaps the most important European immigration law case of the last few decades. 'David has superb analytical skills, and total commitment to his cases.' King's Cross station had to be evacuated and the Piccadilly line closed as police recovered Mr Burgess's body after the incident.
It was initially reported that a woman had died. British Transport Police Detective Superintendent Ashley Croft said that several witnesses had come forward and CCTV from the station was being reviewed. The Piccadilly line was suspended through King's Cross until late into Monday evening, causing rush-hour chaos for thousands. Scores of passengers were forced to abandon their train and walk along tracks to Caledonian Road station after the line was closed.