Legal fraternity stunned after skylarking lawyer plunges to death

Mr Catts, 41, fell 17 storeys from the Sebel Suites Hotel on Thursday night in an accident witnessed by his wife, Catrina.

Queensland police said the death, which was being treated as a case of skylarking, happened at 11.45pm, shortly after the Maroubra couple booked into the hotel after arriving on a late flight from Sydney.

The couple, who married eight months ago, had flown to Brisbane to join other relatives for the weekend wedding of a cousin.

Strathfield-born Mr Catts was the oldest son of Laurel and Peter Catts, a surgeon. The couple were being comforted yesterday by their son, Michael. Mr Catts's other brother Paul, who was in Brisbane for the wedding, was comforting his sister-in-law.News of the death stunned and saddened friends and legal colleagues, including lawyers from the Director of Public Prosecutions and court officers, who gathered at Sydney's Crown Hotel, near the Downing Centre Court complex, on Friday night for an impromptu wake.

Mr Catts had a city practice, Summit Law. He had practised corporate law for 15 years, had a master's degree in contracts from the University of NSW and was on the board of directors of the Independent Private Hospitals of Australia.

Criminal defence solicitor Paul Hardin said he had known Mr Catts since he was nine years old. They had remained friends after first meeting while pupils at Trinity Grammar School, Summer Hill.

Queensland police said the lawyer's body was retrieved from the hotel's pool deck area. A report is being prepared for the coroner.