Cambridge University professor plunges to his death from academic building in suspected suicide

A leading Cambridge University professor has plunged to his death from the roof of one of the academic buildings in a suspected suicide.

The body of Prof John Tiley, 72, was found by police at 6.45pm on Sunday evening after reports of a man falling from the top of the law faculty.

Prof Tiley, a fellow of Queen’s College, was the premier tax academic in the UK for more than two decades. He leaves behind a wife and three children.

Cambridgeshire police confirmed they are not treating the death as suspicious.

A university spokesman said: “Prof John Tiley, life fellow of Queens’ College and former chairman of the law faculty, died unexpectedly and tragically in the law faculty building on Sunday night.

“Police are not treating the death as suspicious. Details have been passed to the coroner.

“The university extends deepest sympathy to his widow and children.”

A police spokesman said: “We were called at 6.45pm on June 30 to a university building on the Sidgwick site, to reports a man had fallen from a building.

“His death is not being treated as suspicious and has been passed to the coroner.”

Prof Tiley was emeritus professor of the law of taxation and director of the Centre for Tax Law.

He received a CBE for his work as well as being made an honorary QC.

Prof Tiley began his academic career in 1963 as a lecturer at Oxford University before moving to Birmingham and then, to Cambridge in 1964.

Judith Freedman, a professor of Taxation Law at Oxford University, yesterday paid tribute to tragic Prof John Tiley.

The Worcester College fellow said: “Tax academics are saddened to hear of the death of our dear friend and colleague, Professor John Tiley.

“Thinking of him and his family.”

Tax adviser Pete Miller also took to Twitter to pay tribute to his friend.

Mr Miller said: “Desperately sad news about John Tiley.  A lovely man and a good friend, he will be sadly missed.”

Christina Sweeney-Baird, 20, vice president of the Cambridge University Law Society, said Prof Tiley was “hugely admired”.

The first-year law student at Magdalene College said: “Professor John Tiley was hugely admired and respected by his students and colleagues.

“I’m very sad to hear of his passing and he will be greatly missed by everyone he taught.”

Gary Richards, from The Law Society, yesterday paid his own tributes to Prof Tiley and said his passing was a “great loss to the profession”.

Mr Richards, who is Chair of the Law Society’s Tax Law Committee, said: “Prof John Tiley made an enormous contribution to the tax law community over many years and was regarded as a leading tax academic.

“His sudden passing is a great loss to the profession.”