Richard Rougier
Encyclopedia
Sir Richard George Rougier (12 February 1932 – 25 October 2007) was a British
High Court judge
for 15 years. He was the son of noted romance novelist
Georgette Heyer
.
and her husband, George Ronald Rougier CBE QC, a mining engineer who later became a barrister. His mother, a successful published author by the time of his birth, referred to Rougier as her "most notable (indeed peerless) work." In 1939, his father was called to the Bar, and the family moved first to Brighton
, then to Hove
, so that Ronald Rougier could easily commute to London. The following year, Rougier was sent to prep school. The Blitz
made train travel uncertain at times, making it difficult for Rougier's father to commute. In 1942, the family moved to London.
He was educated at Marlborough College
, and read classics and law at Pembroke College, Cambridge
from 1952 to 1955. He did National Service
in the Rifle Brigade.
in 1956. He practised as a barrister
on the South Eastern Circuit, specialising in medical insurance and pharmaceutical cases. He became a QC
in 1972 and a recorder
in 1973.
He was appointed as a High Court judge in 1986, in the Queen's Bench Division, receiving the customary knighthood. He was the presiding judge of the Midland circuit from 1990 to 1994. He sat in a number of controversial cases.
He presided at he trial of Iorworth Hoare in 1989, sentencing him to life imprisonment for the attempted rape of a 60-year-old.
In a civil case in 1991, he ruled that the family of the Lynn Siddons, who had been stabbed to death in 1977, was entitled to damages from her suspected murderer Michael Brookes. Although Brookes had not been tried in a criminal court, Rougier ruled that it was beyond reasonable doubt
that Brookes was her killer. Brookes was later sentenced to life imprisonment in 1996.
He presided at the murder trial of Jonathan Jones
, accused of killing Harry and Megan Tooze, the parents of his girlfriend, at their farmhouse in Llanharry
in mid-Glamorgan in 1993. Rougier was clearly surprised when Jones was convicted by the jury. Although he sentenced Jones to the mandatory term of life imprisonment
, he set no minimum term, and wrote privately to the Home Secretary
, Michael Howard
, and defence counsel, John Rees
QC, to express his doubts over the verdict. Jones was later released and his conviction was quashed
in May 1996.
He also sat in the case of Revill v. Newbery in 1994, in which burglar Mark Revill sued pensioner Ted Newbery, the occupant of the shed that Revill was trying to break into. Rougier ordered Newbery to pay Revill £4,000 damages for the injured he sustained when Newbery fired a shotgun blind, through the shed door.
He retired in 2002, but presided at an inquiry in 2005 into the deaths of 11 men at Kingsway Hospital in Derby
. He retired to Somerset
, where he enjoyed playing contract bridge
, fly fishing
and golf
. He was also a member of the Garrick Club
.
They were divorced in 1996, and he remarried later that year, to Judy Williams. He died of lung cancer
.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
High Court judge
High Court judge
A High Court judge is a judge of the High Court of Justice, and represents the third highest level of judge in the courts of England and Wales. High Court judges are referred to as puisne judges...
for 15 years. He was the son of noted romance novelist
Romance novel
The romance novel is a literary genre developed in Western culture, mainly in English-speaking countries. Novels in this genre place their primary focus on the relationship and romantic love between two people, and must have an "emotionally satisfying and optimistic ending." Through the late...
Georgette Heyer
Georgette Heyer
Georgette Heyer was a British historical romance and detective fiction novelist. Her writing career began in 1921, when she turned a story for her younger brother into the novel The Black Moth. In 1925 Heyer married George Ronald Rougier, a mining engineer...
.
Early years
Rougier was the only child of novelist Georgette HeyerGeorgette Heyer
Georgette Heyer was a British historical romance and detective fiction novelist. Her writing career began in 1921, when she turned a story for her younger brother into the novel The Black Moth. In 1925 Heyer married George Ronald Rougier, a mining engineer...
and her husband, George Ronald Rougier CBE QC, a mining engineer who later became a barrister. His mother, a successful published author by the time of his birth, referred to Rougier as her "most notable (indeed peerless) work." In 1939, his father was called to the Bar, and the family moved first to Brighton
Brighton
Brighton is the major part of the city of Brighton and Hove in East Sussex, England on the south coast of Great Britain...
, then to Hove
Hove
Hove is a town on the south coast of England, immediately to the west of its larger neighbour Brighton, with which it forms the unitary authority Brighton and Hove. It forms a single conurbation together with Brighton and some smaller towns and villages running along the coast...
, so that Ronald Rougier could easily commute to London. The following year, Rougier was sent to prep school. The Blitz
The Blitz
The Blitz was the sustained strategic bombing of Britain by Nazi Germany between 7 September 1940 and 10 May 1941, during the Second World War. The city of London was bombed by the Luftwaffe for 76 consecutive nights and many towns and cities across the country followed...
made train travel uncertain at times, making it difficult for Rougier's father to commute. In 1942, the family moved to London.
He was educated at Marlborough College
Marlborough College
Marlborough College is a British co-educational independent school for day and boarding pupils, located in Marlborough, Wiltshire.Founded in 1843 for the education of the sons of Church of England clergy, the school now accepts both boys and girls of all beliefs. Currently there are just over 800...
, and read classics and law at Pembroke College, Cambridge
Pembroke College, Cambridge
Pembroke College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England.The college has over seven hundred students and fellows, and is the third oldest college of the university. Physically, it is one of the university's larger colleges, with buildings from almost every century since its...
from 1952 to 1955. He did National Service
National service
National service is a common name for mandatory government service programmes . The term became common British usage during and for some years following the Second World War. Many young people spent one or more years in such programmes...
in the Rifle Brigade.
Career
He followed his father into the law, and was called to the Bar at Inner TempleInner Temple
The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple, commonly known as Inner Temple, is one of the four Inns of Court in London. To be called to the Bar and practise as a barrister in England and Wales, an individual must belong to one of these Inns...
in 1956. He practised as a barrister
Barrister
A barrister is a member of one of the two classes of lawyer found in many common law jurisdictions with split legal professions. Barristers specialise in courtroom advocacy, drafting legal pleadings and giving expert legal opinions...
on the South Eastern Circuit, specialising in medical insurance and pharmaceutical cases. He became a QC
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
in 1972 and a recorder
Recorder (judge)
A Recorder is a judicial officer in England and Wales. It now refers to two quite different appointments. The ancient Recorderships of England and Wales now form part of a system of Honorary Recorderships which are filled by the most senior full-time circuit judges...
in 1973.
He was appointed as a High Court judge in 1986, in the Queen's Bench Division, receiving the customary knighthood. He was the presiding judge of the Midland circuit from 1990 to 1994. He sat in a number of controversial cases.
He presided at he trial of Iorworth Hoare in 1989, sentencing him to life imprisonment for the attempted rape of a 60-year-old.
In a civil case in 1991, he ruled that the family of the Lynn Siddons, who had been stabbed to death in 1977, was entitled to damages from her suspected murderer Michael Brookes. Although Brookes had not been tried in a criminal court, Rougier ruled that it was beyond reasonable doubt
Beyond reasonable doubt
Beyond a reasonable doubt refers to the legal principle of reasonable doubt, the standard of proof required in most criminal cases.Beyond Reasonable Doubt may also refer to:...
that Brookes was her killer. Brookes was later sentenced to life imprisonment in 1996.
He presided at the murder trial of Jonathan Jones
Jonathan Jones
Jonathan Jones may refer to:*Jonathan Jones , British journalist and art critic*Jonathan Jones , lead vocalist and keyboardist of We Shot the Moon*Jonathan A. Jones , British physicist...
, accused of killing Harry and Megan Tooze, the parents of his girlfriend, at their farmhouse in Llanharry
Llanharry
Llanharry is a small village in the county borough of Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales.Historically Llanharry has been inextricably linked with iron mining as far back as the Roman period and Elizabethan era, and for a period in the 20th century it boasted the only iron mine in Wales.-Employment:Llanharry...
in mid-Glamorgan in 1993. Rougier was clearly surprised when Jones was convicted by the jury. Although he sentenced Jones to the mandatory term of life imprisonment
Life imprisonment
Life imprisonment is a sentence of imprisonment for a serious crime under which the convicted person is to remain in jail for the rest of his or her life...
, he set no minimum term, and wrote privately to the Home Secretary
Home Secretary
The Secretary of State for the Home Department, commonly known as the Home Secretary, is the minister in charge of the Home Office of the United Kingdom, and one of the country's four Great Offices of State...
, Michael Howard
Michael Howard
Michael Howard, Baron Howard of Lympne, CH, QC, PC is a British politician, who served as the Leader of the Conservative Party and Leader of the Opposition from November 2003 to December 2005...
, and defence counsel, John Rees
John Rees
John Rees may refer to:*John Rees , British political activist *John Rees , American journalist*Conway Rees, John Conway Rees, Welsh rugby union international...
QC, to express his doubts over the verdict. Jones was later released and his conviction was quashed
Quashed
Quashed was a British-bred and British-trained thoroughbred racehorse, winner of the Epsom Oaks in 1935.For many years, the Verdict family was not accepted into the British Stud Book because Quashed's dam was effectively a half-bred and it was not until the 1960s era of the July Cup winner...
in May 1996.
He also sat in the case of Revill v. Newbery in 1994, in which burglar Mark Revill sued pensioner Ted Newbery, the occupant of the shed that Revill was trying to break into. Rougier ordered Newbery to pay Revill £4,000 damages for the injured he sustained when Newbery fired a shotgun blind, through the shed door.
He retired in 2002, but presided at an inquiry in 2005 into the deaths of 11 men at Kingsway Hospital in Derby
Derby
Derby , is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands region of England. It lies upon the banks of the River Derwent and is located in the south of the ceremonial county of Derbyshire. In the 2001 census, the population of the city was 233,700, whilst that of the Derby Urban Area was 229,407...
. He retired to Somerset
Somerset
The ceremonial and non-metropolitan county of Somerset in South West England borders Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west. It is partly bounded to the north and west by the Bristol Channel and the estuary of the...
, where he enjoyed playing contract bridge
Contract bridge
Contract bridge, usually known simply as bridge, is a trick-taking card game using a standard deck of 52 playing cards played by four players in two competing partnerships with partners sitting opposite each other around a small table...
, fly fishing
Fly fishing
Fly fishing is an angling method in which an artificial 'fly' is used to catch fish. The fly is cast using a fly rod, reel, and specialized weighted line. Casting a nearly weightless fly or 'lure' requires casting techniques significantly different from other forms of casting...
and golf
Golf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
. He was also a member of the Garrick Club
Garrick Club
The Garrick Club is a gentlemen's club in London.-History:The Garrick Club was founded at a meeting in the Committee Room at Theatre Royal, Drury Lane on Wednesday 17 August 1831...
.
Family
In 1960, Rougier fell in love with the estranged wife of one of his acquaintances. He assisted the woman, Susanna Flint, in leaving her husband, and, after her divorce was final, the couple married. Together they raised her two sons from her first marriage as well as their own son, Nicholas, born in 1966.They were divorced in 1996, and he remarried later that year, to Judy Williams. He died of lung cancer
Lung cancer
Lung cancer is a disease characterized by uncontrolled cell growth in tissues of the lung. If left untreated, this growth can spread beyond the lung in a process called metastasis into nearby tissue and, eventually, into other parts of the body. Most cancers that start in lung, known as primary...
.