The co-defended of Mike Lynch — the British tech tycoon who is one of the six people missing from a sunken yacht off Sicily — died following a road accident that left him with serious injuries.
Stephen Chamberlain, who was on trial for fraud and conspiracy in the US alongside Lynch, was hit by a car in Cambridgeshire just two days before Mike Lynch was listed missing after a tornado sank his superyacht off the coast of Sicily, the Telegraph reports.
The superyacht Bayesian was carrying foreign tourists, including two New Zealanders, when it capsized and sank in bad weather early Monday.
The Associated Press reported Lynch and five other people were still missing, citing Italy's civil protection and authorities. Lynch's wife and 14 other people survived. One body was found near the wreck.
As the search for survivors continued today, it was revealed that Chamberlain had been killed in the road accident just days before.
Both men faced the same charges after Lynch, Chamberlain's boss, was accused of inflating the value of his company to sell it to Hewlett-Packard.
Both men were acquitted of all 15 charges.
"Our dear client and friend Steve Chamberlain was fatally struck by a car on Saturday while out running," sources told the Telegraph.
"He was a courageous man with unparalleled integrity, and we deeply miss him. He fought successfully to clear his good name, which lives on through his wonderful family."
Local police would not name Chamberlain but said a man in his 50s was taken to hospital with serious injuries. He died after being placed on life support.
The driver of the car, a 49-year-old woman, remained at the scene and helped officers with their investigation.
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