A man accused of murdering his mother has been found dead in Spain, his lawyer has announced.
Sean Flynn was due to go on trial over the death of Louise Tiffney, who disappeared from her home on Dean Path in Edinburgh in May 2002.
The 38-year-old’s address was given as Berlin, Germany, in court documents and a warrant was issued for his arrest after he failed to turn up at Livingston High Court on Tuesday.
On Friday, Flynn’s solicitor Aamer Anwar said: “I can confirm that this morning, we were advised that Sean Flynn, aged 37, who failed to appear for trial for the murder of his mother, Louise Tiffney 19 years ago, was according to the police found dead in Spain, after taking his own life.”
In 2005, the then 21-year-old was prosecuted for his mother’s murder but acquitted at Perth High Court.
Mr Anwar said Flynn had maintained his innocence throughout the 22-day trial and claimed his mother had walked out after a row.
In April 2017, Ms Tiffney’s remains were found in a shallow grave, near a stately home in Longniddry, East Lothian and a new prosecution was brought by the Crown under double jeopardy legislation – allowing for an individual to be tried again for the same crime.
Flynn had been charged with murdering Ms Tiffney and of attempting to defeat the ends of justice by concealing her body in the boot of a car, driving it into a wooded area and disposing of it there before cleaning the vehicle.
At a previous hearing in January, his lawyer said Flynn denied the charges.
Mr Anwar said: “Any loss of life is a tragedy, Sean Flynn’s next of kin has been informed and there will be no further comment.“
A Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) spokesperson said: “COPFS are aware of the reports concerning the death of Sean Flynn and are awaiting official confirmation from the Spanish authorities.”
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “We were notified by Spanish police on Thursday, 21 October, about the death of a 38-year-old man in the Alicante region.
“Formal identification is still to be carried out however the family of Sean Flynn have been informed.
“We will continue to work with the Spanish police to establish the full circumstances but at this time, the death is not believed to be suspicious.”
STV NewsFlynn was jailed in June 2002 after admitting to causing the deaths of two friends in a car crash.
His cousin Paul Ross and Christopher Magee, who were both 17-years-old, were killed and another friend, Mario Gaglardini, was injured in the incident in Mid Calder on January 14, 2001.
Ms Tiffney disappeared on May 27, 2002, four days before her son admitted the charge.
It was three years later that he stood trial accused of killing his mother.
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