Co-defendants in HP fraud trial pass away just days apart

Stephen Chamberlain, the co-defendant of British tech tycoon Mike Lynch in a US fraud trial, died in a car accident shortly before Lynch went missing after a yacht sank off the coast of Sicily. Chamberlain, who was the former vice president of finance at Autonomy, was struck by a vehicle while running in Cambridgeshire. His lawyer confirmed the incident, stating that Chamberlain had recently been acquitted of fraud and conspiracy charges alongside Lynch. The two faced allegations of inflating Autonomy's value prior to its sale to Hewlett Packard for $11 billion, which initiated a lengthy legal battle. Chamberlain had successfully cleared his name in a trial earlier this year, and his death has been described as a significant loss by those who knew him. Following his tenure at Autonomy, he worked at cybersecurity firm Darktrace and volunteered for Cambridge United soccer club. Meanwhile, Lynch's disappearance occurred just days after Chamberlain's death, as he was among six tourists missing after their luxury yacht sank during a tornado.

- Stephen Chamberlain, co-defendant of Mike Lynch, died in a car crash.

- Both men were acquitted of fraud charges related to the sale of Autonomy.

- Chamberlain had recently cleared his name in a trial before his death.

- Mike Lynch went missing after a yacht sank off Sicily shortly after Chamberlain's death.

- Chamberlain had a career in finance and worked with Darktrace and Cambridge United.