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Judge Murray Abbott, 57, was on his way to Christchurch District Court when he collapsed and died suddenly. On Wednesday he had finished presiding over a seven-day trial.
A partner in the Christchurch law firm Anthony Harper for many years, Judge Abbott was appointed to the District Court and Youth Court benches in 1989.
He was born in Eltham, in the Taranaki, and went to school at Wanganui Collegiate. He studied law at Canterbury University, graduating in 1973.
Canterbury District Law Society president Dr Ed Wylie, QC, said Judge Abbott was "diligent, hard-working and courteous" and a respected member of the bench.
