Solicitor: Friends in shock over Yorkshireman's death

THE solicitor shot dead by gunman Derrick Bird at the start of his rampage through Cumbria was originally from Yorkshire, it emerged yesterday.

Kevin Commons, 60, was born in Cantley, Doncaster, attended the town's Grammar School and started his legal career at Doncaster Magistrates' Court.

Members of Mr Commons' family who still live in South Yorkshire yesterday spoke of their shock over the death of the lawyer, who was gunned down in the driveway of his home.

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It is understood Mr Commons moved to Cumbria more than 30 years ago to start his own firm, KJ Commons and Co, which had offices in Whitehaven, Workington and Carlisle.

His cousin, Paul Commons, who lives in Rotherham, said: "My dad had eight brothers, so we are a big family. Kevin and I used to be friends when we were younger although I hadn't seen him for about 20 years.

"He was always going to be successful. He went to the grammar school. He was a nice guy and good to the people around him."

Doncaster's deputy coroner Fred Curtis said he had known Mr Commons during his early career and described him as "bright and ambitious" saying his death was a "shock".

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Mr Commons' friend and business partner Marcus Nickson said colleagues at the law firm were stunned by the tragedy.

He said: "It's devastating, and I can hardly take it in. Kevin was a great man, a great lawyer and a very considerate man."

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