The co-defendant of British tech tycoon Mike Lynch - who is currently missing in Italy - has died after being hit by a car just hours before the billionaire's Yacht sank.
Stephen Chamberlain was Mr Lynch's co-defendant in a US fraud trial in which both men were recently acquitted following the $11bn (£8.64bn) sale of their software company 'Autonomy'.
Mr Chamberlain was killed on Saturday, struck down by a car while reportedly out running according to his lawyers. Chamberlain was co-defendant alongside billionaire Lynch in the court case that lasted over a decade. Both men were acquitted in June this year and were now reportedly celebrating their victory.
Gary Lincenberg, Mr Chamberlain’s lawyer, described his client as a "courageous man".
"Our dear client and friend Steve Chamberlain was fatally struck by a car on Saturday while out running," he said.
"He was a courageous man with unparalleled integrity. We deeply miss him.
"Steve fought successfully fought to clear his good name at trial earlier this year, and his good name now lives on through his wonderful family."
The driver of the vehicle that fatally struck Mr Chamberlain did not stop at the scene and Cambridgeshire Police are currently appealing for witnesses to the incident.
Just hours after the untimely death of Mr Chamberlain, his former co-defendant was also involved in a tragic accident, Mr Lynch is now feared dead as following the Yacht sinking
off the coast of Sicily on Monday.
On Monday British tech billionaire Mike Lynch and five other people, including his daughter and the head of Morgan Stanley Bank are among those missing after a yacht, named the "Bayesian," sank off the coast of Sicily, near Porticello Santa Flavia.
Maritime experts are questioning how the yacht sank as it was designed to withstand the stormy weather that it had encountered. Authorities are still searching for the Billionaire with divers attempting to reach the wreckage of the yacht, which lies some 50 metres underwater on the seabed off the Sicilian coast.
According to Reuters: six passengers are missing, including tech tycoon Mike Lynch, his daughter Hannah, 18, and Morgan Stanley boss Jonathan Bloomer
A man's body has been recovered. The coastguard said he was the ship's cook. He's been named in reports both as Ricardo Thomas and Recaldo Thomas
The father of one of the 15 people rescued says his daughter had been invited onto the yacht following Mike Lynch's victory in the courts.
Last night, the Italian fire department said divers had been unable to get inside the wreck of the yacht due to furniture obstructing the passage inside
There were 22 people onboard when the yacht sank in bad weather in the early hours of Monday
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