Judge Grant Britton’s death marked with tribute in Rockhampton District Court

A former Queensland district judge who presided over major cases including the boyfriend of ‘girl in the cupboard’ Natasha Ryan has died after a short battle with illness. TRIBUTE

District Court Judge, Grant Britton, pictured delivering his retirement speech at the Rockhampton Court, has died after a short illness. Photo: Chris Ison / The Morning Bulletin

A former Queensland district judge who presided over major cases including the boyfriend of ‘girl in the cupboard’ Natasha Ryan has died after a short battle with illness.

Judge Grant Britton, who had been living in Maleny and had recently sold his farm with plans to relocate to Toowoomba, was the Central Region district court judge based in Rockhampton for 14 years. He had worked in the region as a barrister prior to taking the judge’s position.

Judge Britton, who was 78, leaves behind five children and wife Christine.

His death was announced to the Rockhampton District Court on Wednesday morning by the current sitting Judge Jeff Clarke who gave heartfelt statement honouring the work Judge Britton had done during his time in Central Queensland.

“I received word last night that Judge Grant Britton died yesterday following a short illness,” Judge Clarke said.

Judge Britton was the presiding judge in Rockhampton and Central Region between November 1998 and December 2012.

Former Rockhampton Supreme Court Justice Duncan McMeekin spoke with this publication about the 45 year friendship he had with his colleague, sometime opponent in the courtroom and sometime presiding judge in matters he litigated.

He said Judge Britton came to Rockhampton in 1979 and started at the barrister chambers with him.

Mr McMeekin, who is now an independent mediator and arbitrator, had been at the chambers 18 months by this point.

He said Judge Britton became a senior counsel, otherwise known as a silk, in 1998 and was appointed the district court judge a week later.

Judge Britton had mainly practised in civil law, specialising in personal injury claims, but spent the majority of his 14-year District Court Judge appointment presiding over criminal matters.

“I worked beside him and appeared before him, and indeed when eventually I became the Supreme Court judge and he was the District Court judge in Rockhampton for several years,” Mr McMeekin said.

”We were good friends throughout that time. We had often been opponents to each other in cases and of course, colleagues as judges.

”He was a good civil lawyer

”He was a very careful lawyer, very thorough in what he did.

”He was well regarded by his peers and had a wide group of friends.”

According to Judge Britton’s biography on the Queensland court website, he was the chairman of the Central Region Patient Review Tribunal between 1992-1998.

”Arguably, his best work was as judge in this courtroom and others in the Central Region and throughout the state,” Judge Clarke said.

”I cannot recall a successful appeal against his decisions.

“He possessed a quiet, patient, sensible, articulate and stern forbearance. He conducted court with required formality and austerity.

”Judge Britton always demanded highly ethical and principled advocacy and was always fair and accommodating in the discharge of his duty.”

One of the sentences Judge Britton handed down was to Natasha Ryan’s, later better know as Tash Black, now widowed husband Scott Black for perjury after he lied to police about the teenager’s whereabouts when she was classified missing but was actually staying at his place.

He also sentenced a Rockhampton student for hijacking a light plane from Mackay airport in February 2003 at knifepoint.

Judge Britton sentenced Kelly Witchard, 29 at the time of sentencing, to four years prison with parole eligibility after serving 18 months.

”He was incredibly supportive and prepared to give up his time to mentor any lawyers and others, including staff of the district court registry, his associates and bailiffs,” Judge Clarke said.

“Judge Britton will be fondly remembered and sadly missed for his humility, good humour and caring, gentlemanly disposition.”

Rockhampton’s Supreme Court Justice Graeme Crow echoed Judge Clarke’s remarks.

He said he was very saddened by Judge Britton’s premature death.

Justice Crow said Judge Britton had been a college of his since 1991 and his death was “a tragic and unexpected loss”.

Former Rockhampton defence barrister of 35 years Ross Lo Monaco, who represented Ms Ryan when she was located by police at Mr Black’s place, said he was also saddened to hear of Judge Britton’s death.

”Judge Britton ranks with the very best of judges I appeared before,” he said.

”He was civil and courteous at all times and presided over his court fairly and without bias or prejudice towards either side of the proceedings.”

Judge Britton retired with his family after his appointment as the Central Region district judge ended and moved away from the region.

He was appointed acting district court judge of the New South Wales in 2013.

Before working in Central Queensland, he worked at a Brisbane law firm Gilshenan and Luton Solicitors from 1970 to 1976, first as a solicitor and then as a partner.

Judge Britton, who went to Banyo State High School, was also a Judge of the Children’s Court of Queensland (1998–2012) and Planning and Environment Court of Queensland (1998–2012).

Originally published as Judge Grant Britton’s death marked with tribute in Rockhampton District Court