Mr George Carman QC, one of the Britain's leading barristers, died today aged 71 after a battle against cancer, his son said.
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Mr Carman, who retired last year, had suffered from prostate cancer for four and half years. Mr Dominic Carman said his father was a small man "but with his stage as a courtroom and his audience as the jury he was a giant among men".
Speaking from Mr Carman senior's home in Wimbledon, south-west London, the barrister's close friend Ms Karen Phillips said: "It's very sad. We have been expecting it. I am just glad that he has gone quickly and he has not suffered at all and it's been very very peaceful."
Mr Carman, who announced that he was suffering from prostate cancer in September last year, criticised Britain's approach to the disease.
He said: "I would also like to mention the fact that having looked somewhat at the government figures for cancer research in this country, we are way behind the major European countries and the United States, and I think it is time that problem was addressed by all the political parties."
He also encouraged cancer sufferers to help doctors by having a positive attitude towards the disease.
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Master of the soundbite Mr George Carman QC used his rapier wit to attack - and defend - some of the most famous names in Britain.
Many colleagues said it was his ability to plant a vivid and telling picture of his quarry in the jury's head that won him some of his most famous libel victories.
Memorable phrases from his cases include: Sonia Sutcliffe, wife of the Yorkshire Ripper: "She danced on the graves of her husband's victims.
"She is a clever, confident, cold and calculating woman. She has sought to excite sympathy at every available opportunity in the witness box.
"The truth and Sonia do not make good bedfellows."
Mr David Mellor: "Behaved like an ostrich and put his head in the sand, thereby exposing his thinking parts."
Mr Neil Hamilton, in his battle with Mr Mohamed Al Fayed: "On the make and on the take" and "a man with no honour left".
Mr Ken Dodd, who he defended on tax evasion charges: "Some accountants are comedians, but comedians are never accountants."
- What they said about him:
Ms Jani Allen a South African journalist who sued over claims she had an affair with neo-Nazi leader Mr Eugene Terre Blanche, said: "Whatever award is given for libel, being cross-examined by you would not make it enough money."
Mr Alan Rusbridger, The Guardian editor, on receiving a writ from Jonathan Aitken: "We'd better get Carman - before Aitken gets him."
Virgin boss Mr Richard Branson: "I asked my solicitor who I should most dread having on the other side to cross-examine me, and he said George Carman.
"I said let's get this man. Quickly."
PA