Mark Saunders
written by John Bolch
on Wednesday, May 07, 2008
I've just heard that the man shot dead in the Chelsea siege last night was family law barrister Mark Saunders of Queen Elizabeth Building chambers (their website is currently unavailable). I'm not going to discuss the circumstances surrounding the incident here (see this story in The Telegraph), and I'm certainly not going to suggest that it was any more awful because the deceased was a barrister, but it is a tragedy not just for the family but also for the profession that such a promising career has been brought to an end in such an appalling way.
May 07, 2008 8:36 PM
This is really really terrible and such a waste of a young life. its so sad the way this country is going, one could say justice will be done, perhaps it will, but it will never bring this young man back. god bless you mark.
May 07, 2008 8:55 PM
A tragedy - a tragedy also for the police who had to deploy an armed response unit and a tragedy for the officer tasked to deal with the situation.
May 07, 2008 10:49 PM
Also a tragedy of reporting. Described in some papers as a "gun battle" it looks like the deceased fired 3 shots over a period of several hours - although I guess that, for those on the receiving end, it was no less frightening for that.
May 08, 2008 11:12 AM
Yes, it was tragic for the police as well.
May 09, 2008 7:01 AM
It's a shame he didnt take a few of the bastards down with him.
May 09, 2008 9:10 AM
Yes, I'm sure the families of the officers involved would agree with that.
May 09, 2008 2:22 PM
As I sat in front of the tv screen jaws widely dropped, I couldnt believe my eyes when I recognised the familiar face on the news that had been killed.
Mark Saunders was such a great man as a person and as a barrister. He was certainly an inspiration to me, when I worked with him as a mini-pupil. He will be greatly missed!!
May 09, 2008 2:26 PM
Thanks for that. It's particularly good to receive a comment from someone who knew him.
May 11, 2008 8:57 PM
It is very sad to see how the police hadndling this case, I think they should have handled the whole situation in a more appropriate manner. My sincere condolence to Mark's family and his wife, Liz.
September 10, 2008 8:17 AM
Anyone pointing a loaded shotgun out of a window is a risk to the general public and should be taken out. Our brave Police did this and thus ensured the pulic safety.
September 18, 2008 4:16 PM
"Our brave police"? The thugs that killed Mark were unsupervised, gung-ho fantasists. I sincerely hope that each and every one of them - including their so-called senior officers - stand trial for murder as they richly deserve.
September 18, 2008 5:43 PM
To the last two commenters: I hope that any inquiry is a little more objective than either of you!
October 10, 2008 11:33 AM
It's very interesting that even though this person was firing a gun randomly that the family are saying that he posed no threat!!! Funny that when they are taking the police to court. It's amazing how the thought of suing the Police makes a gun wielding maniac seem almost angelic! Shame on the parents - would they be so keen an suing if their son had killed someone!!!
October 10, 2008 4:32 PM
Yes, the idea that he was no threat because the police had cleared the area doesn't wash with me either.
January 08, 2009 5:51 PM
the person that left the comment on the 10th october ,you are so wrong Mark saunders was a nice caring funny human being and for the police to do what they done was wrong !! god bless you mark & your Family