The Bermuda Criminal Bar and the island’s legal community is mourning the loss of John Perry, KC, who died on Sunday.

Delroy Duncan, KC, said the lawyer had been “a mentor and friend to many at the Bermuda Bar”.

He added: “John was my personal friend, pupil-master and mentor.

“In addition, he was a personal friend and university lecturer at the London School of Economics to the late Julian Hall and former Chief Justice Narinder Hargun.

“John influenced many members of the Bermuda Bar with his profound knowledge of the law imparted through his natural talent to teach young lawyers and to make compelling, complicated legal submissions to the court.

“It was an experience to sit behind John when he schooled some of the most experienced judges on the Bermuda Court of Appeal in the finer points of criminal law and procedure.”

Mr Duncan said that the late professor J. C. Smith, author of Justification and Excuse in the Criminal Law, credited Mr Perry with changing the law on justification and excuse in the law of self-defence in a “trilogy of cases”: R v Gladstone Williams, R v Beckford and R v Willer.

“John was a fearless advocate but, at the same time, respectful of the court.

“The late Chief Justice Richard Ground notably remarked that the Arnold Todd trial was one of the most challenging cases he ever presided over.

“John successfully led the charge for the defence in this trial, which was said to be the longest criminal trial in Bermuda's history.”

Mr Perry appeared before the Bermuda Courts on more than 40 occasions, which Mr Duncan called “remarkable for a foreign counsel”.

“Some of the more celebrated cases John appeared in include the Justis Smith Privy Council appeal, the Ted Ming Privy Council appeal, and the Dr DeLaChevotiere appeal.

“John was successful in each appeal. He also courageously appeared in some of Bermuda's more challenging cases, Salasie v R and White v R.”

Mr Duncan added: “John inspired the Criminal Bar by serving Bermuda with talent, integrity and respect for the jurisdiction.

“On behalf of those who were trained and worked with John, I endorse the words of Craig Attridge, with whom John regularly worked: ‘The Defence Rests’.”

Jeremy Dein, KC at the London Chambers of 25 Bedford Row, said Mr Perry had been “a stalwart member of chambers for many years”.

He said Mr Perry, who was born in a small Jamaican village, arrived in Britain in the 1970s working as a court clerk, and later as a lecturer at the London School of Economics.

“At a time when the Criminal Bar was unthinkably challenging for ethnic minority practitioners, he miraculously secured a tenancy at 2 Crown Office Row, a leading common law set.

“Among its members was a young Tony Blair, to whose wedding John was invited as a friend of the future Prime Minister.”

Mr Dein added: “Only John could have left a leading civil set to join a then small and unheralded chambers, 11 South Square — which has now grown to become 25 Bedford Row.

“He made that decision in the mid-80s because he wanted to help spearhead our new breed, a pure defence chambers.

“He went from the Champions League to non-league overnight, giving up a thriving civil practice. Never once did John profess to regret that move. On the contrary.”

He called Mr Perry “an icon in every way” and “a tall, handsome man, exuding class and style”.

“A shining intellect with a mammoth knowledge of the criminal law, a superb appellate lawyer, respected and always praised by the then Lord Chief Justice, Lord Lane.

“This achievement cannot be overstated bearing in mind the prejudice that characterised the era.”

He said Mr Perry “through his infinite powers, overcame and conquered”.

“Those of us led by John will never forget what we learnt, and all the fun that went with it.

“He could be unpredictable, even irascible, but it was always in a background of courtesy and appreciation.

“He was, quite simply, a master of his trade, an incredible character, widely liked and highly respected by all.”

He added that Mr Perry had been offered a High Court appointment but turned it down, which he called “classic John”.

Mr Dein said he was “our role model, our inspiration — simple as that”.

Mr Perry invited colleagues to Jamaica in 1990 where they “witnessed his extraordinarily humble beginnings”.

He said Mr Perry made “a huge and unique contribution” to the evolution of the firm.

“He will be much missed by everyone at 25 Bedford Row.”