A top barrister and part-time judge who died after a blaze ripped through his Thames-side apartment was a “true gentleman”, friends said today.
Ian Paton, 66, a criminal prosecutor who also sat as a crown court recorder, was in his third-floor flat in Luna House, Bermondsey Wall West, when fire broke out.
Mr Paton, who worked for QEB Hollis Whiteman Chambers, was pulled from the flames by firefighters but pronounced dead shortly after.
Other residents of the block fled as smoke poured from the apartment.
Sources said the blaze, which happened at about 5.30pm on Tuesday, had been investigated to ensure it was not connected to his work and to rule out a revenge attack.
Mr Paton’s prosecutions had led to several criminals being jailed. “This is no longer suspicious. This will probably go down more as misadventure. The cause is still being investigated, but there were candles in the flat,” a source said.
A post-mortem examination has taken place and more tests are due to be carried out, but it is suspected Mr Paton, who lived alone, died from smoke inhalation.
Friend and former colleague Sally Mertens, 46, a barrister at Atkinson Bevan Chambers, said: “He was really well respected, a true gentleman and very fair towards people as a prosecutor. He was a lovely guy and a very good barrister. He also sat as a judge part-time, as a recorder. He worked on a lot of stuff, from murders to frauds.
“He was a pleasure to work with. It’s incredibly sad. He was incredibly well respected among his colleagues. Being at QEB Chambers, you’re talking about one of the top five to be with, so he was at the top of his game.”
Barrister John Traversi, of 9 Bedford Row Chambers, added: “We started at the Bar at about the same time. He was a very bright, capable and unyielding prosecutor. He was hugely respected.
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“Anybody who came across him in court representing the other side knew they would be up against it. He was a formidable opponent and it’s a huge loss to the profession.”
A family friend, who wished not to be named, said: “Everyone is devastated. He was a great man who had a young daughter and this is terrible just before Christmas.” His daughter was too upset to speak.
It took 21 firefighters nearly two hours to control the blaze. One evacuated resident said: “It must have been going on for a good few hours. There was a lot of billowing, thick black smoke coming from the window. I don’t think anybody could have survived that.”
London Fire Brigade said: “A man was rescued from the flat by firefighters but was sadly confirmed dead at scene.”
