Woman charged with murder of transvestite

(PA)

A woman has been charged with the murder of a cross-dressing immigration lawyer who was allegedly pushed beneath an oncoming London Underground train on Monday.

Nina Kanagasingham, 34, from Cricklewood in north London, attended the City of Westminster Magistrates' Court yesterday morning. She was remanded in custody and will appear at the Old Bailey on Monday.

The victim was named yesterday as David Burgess, a 63-year-old transvestite known by his friends as Sonia, who fell on to the track of the Piccadilly line at King's Cross station during evening rush-hour.

The incident led to the station being evacuated, while hundreds of passengers on board the train had to make their way along the tunnel to safety. The trial is likely to centre on CCTV footage of the incident and the testimony of the many witnesses who have come forward.

Mr Burgess was a leading immigration lawyer who had worked on landmark court cases concerning fair trials, unlawful detention and the protection of human rights. He leaves behind two daughters and a son, all adults. His family said in a statement: "Sonia was a loving and wonderful person and will be missed deeply."

In a statement, Mr Burgess's law firm Luqmani Thompson & Partners said: "We are immensely saddened by the death of David Burgess, an enormously talented practitioner, an inspiration to a generation of lawyers practising in this field, and a great friend. David's contribution to legal development is unquestionable."