Key figures behind Mike Lynch’s legal victories now embroiled in tragedy following superyacht sinking
Mike Lynch, a top lawyer who was part of his fraud trial and a key defence witness are just three of the six still missing after the tech tycoon’s yacht sunk in a tornado off Sicily.
They were a group brought together by one goal: to defy the odds and win Mike Lynch’s case.
The protracted legal battle started when Hewlett-Packard, the technology company, accused Mr Lynch of fraud by overstating the value of his company Autonomy when he sold it to them in 2011.
The trial saw Mr Lynch, 59, extradited to America to serve a year under house arrest in San Francisco.
Less than 0.5% of federal criminal cases in the United States end in acquittal.
Had Mr Lynch been convicted, he would have faced up to 25 years in prison. So the jury’s decision to clear him of all charges in June came as a surprise, one he later said gave him a "second life".
Chris Morvillo, the partner at the law firm Clifford Chance was part of Mr Lynch’s legal team.
He recounted the day the verdict came in with David Markus, an American lawyer, on his podcast a week before the Sicily trip.
"At least our side of the courtroom erupted, it was this electric moment, I’ve never seen anything like it in a courtroom before," he said.
Mr Markus said Mr Morvillo had been looking forward to enjoying the team’s success with a holiday to Sicily. His wife, Neda, and some of the team who had contributed to the win would be attending.
"He couldn’t wait to celebrate, take a deep breath with both Mr Lynch and his family, he was so excited about this trip and rightfully so - he’d spent his life fighting this case the last 10 years," Mr Markus said.
But what was supposed to be a celebration brought fresh tragedy. After a tornado capsized Mr Lynch’s superyacht, one man died and six passengers including Mr Lynch, his daughter, Mr Morvillo and his wife went missing.
Fifteen were rescued.
A key defence witness in Mr Lynch’s trial, Jonathan Bloomer, is among those missing at sea.
The chairman of investment bank, Morgan Stanley International, was on the yacht with his wife, Judy.
Days before the tragedy unfolded in Sicily, Mr Lynch’s co-defendant, Stephen Chamberlain was also killed.
Chamberlain, a former vice president of finance at Autonomy, had been out running in the UK when he was hit by a car.
The driver of the car is assisting the police with their inquiries, according to Cambridgeshire Police, who are investigating the incident.
The storm may have now passed, leaving behind heartache and questions for loved ones.
But for the group brought together by a common endeavour, the search continues.
Source: news.sky.com
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