BREAKING NEWS Family pay tribute to co-defendant of missing British tech tycoon who was killed in car crash just days before Mike Lynch's luxury superyacht sunk off the coast of Sicily By Rory Tingle, Home Affairs Correspondent For Mailonline Published: 09:50, 20 August 2024 | Updated: 10:07, 20 August 2024 e-mail View comments Relatives have paid tribute to a co-defendant of Mike Lynch who died early this morning after being struck by a car just days before the tycoon's luxury yacht sank off the coast of Sicily. Stephen Chamberlain, who was fatally injured following the crash on Saturday, is a former colleague of Mr Lynch - who is now missing after the Bayesian sank in the early hours of Monday. In a statement released through Cambridgeshire Police, the family said: 'Steve was a much-loved husband, father, son, brother and friend.
He was an amazing individual whose only goal in life was to help others in any way possible. 'He made a lasting impression on everyone who had the privilege of knowing him. He will be deeply missed but forever in the hearts of his loved ones.
' Mr Chamberlain was vice president of finance at Mr Lynch's tech firm Autonomy and faced the same charges of fraud and conspiracy as his former boss for allegedly scheming to inflate the company's value before a £9billion sale to Hewlett-Packard. Stephen Chamberlain, a co-defendant in the US trial of missing tycoon Mike Lynch, died on Saturday Mr Chamberlain's family have described him as a 'much-loved husband, father, son, brother and friend' Both men were left elated after being acquitted of all 15 charges by a jury in San Francisco in June after having the threat of jail hanging over them for 13 years. Last night his lawyers said in a separate statement: 'Our dear client and friend Steve Chamberlain was fatally struck by a car on Saturday while out running.
'He was a courageous man with unparalleled integrity. We deeply miss him. 'Steve fought successfully to clear his good name at trial earlier this year, and his good name now lives on through his wonderful family.
' It is not known if Mr Lynch had been informed of his former colleagues accident before he himself went missing yesterday morning. The billionaire had been on a cruise with his loved ones, lawyers and employees from his firm Invoke Capital to celebrate clearing his name when tragedy struck. In his first interview after being acquitted, Mr Lynch said that it would have been 'difficult to survive' prison - where the men could have faced a 25-year sentence.
He told The Times: 'I'd had to say goodbye to everything and everyone, because I didn't know if I'd ever be coming back. 'If this had gone the wrong way, it would have been the end of my life as I have known it in any sense.' Road signs in the village of Stretham in Cambridgeshire, where Mr Chamberlain was killed while out running on Saturday Cambridgeshire Police had appealed for witnesses after the collision between a pedestrian and a car in Newmarket Road in Stretham, Cambridgeshire, saying a man in his 50s was in critical condition.
A force spokesman said: 'The man, who was in his 50s and from Longstanton, was taken to hospital with serious injuries where he remains. 'The driver of the car, a 49-year-old woman from Haddenham, remained at the scene and is assisting with enquiries.' Share or comment on this article: Family pay tribute to co-defendant of missing British tech tycoon who was killed in car crash just days before Mike Lynch's luxury superyacht sunk off the coast of Sicily e-mail Add comment.
