Steve Chamberlain - Mike Lynch’s fraud trial co-defendant - dies after being struck by car in Stretham, lawyer confirms

Steve Chamberlain, who was Mike Lynch’s co-defendant in the Autonomy fraud trial, has died after being “fatally struck” by a car while out running in Stretham, his lawyer has confirmed.

The collision happened on the A1123 on Saturday - just a couple of days before Cambridge entrepreneur Dr Lynch and his 18-year-old daughter went missing off the coast of Sicily when the luxury yacht they were on sunk in a tornado.

Mr Chamberlain and Dr Lynch were cleared of all charges by a jury in the US in June, after they were accused of fraud over the $11billion (£8.64bn) sale of Autonomy to US company Hewlett Packard.

Mr Chamberlain, 52, from Station Road, Longstanton, was taken to hospital with serious injuries following the collision with a blue Vauxhall Corsa, which was travelling between Stretham and Wicken on the A1123 Newmarket Road at about 10.10am on Saturday (17 August).

The car driver, a 49-year-old woman from Haddenham, remained at the scene and is assisting Cambridgeshire police with their enquiries.

On Monday evening, Mr Chamberlain’s lawyer, Gary Lincenberg, confirmed Mr Chamberlain had died.

In a statement, Mr Lincenberg said: “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, and we deeply miss him. He fought successfully to clear his good name, which lives on through his wonderful family.”

Mr Chamberlain’s family said in a statement on Tuesday: “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.”

Police urged anyone with information or dashcam footage of the collision, or the moments before or after, to get in touch through the force website using reference 160 of 17 August, or call 101.

Mr Chamberlain had been VP finance at Autonomy from April 2005 to March 2012. He then worked at secure digital radio solutions company Sepura, in Waterbeach, for just over four years before joining Cambridge cybersecurity giant Darktrace as chief operating officer, working there until June 2023.

He also held voluntary roles as finance director at Cambridge United from January 2016 to June 2018 and was treasurer at Hardwick Football Club.

After becoming what he described as a “defendant in Silicon Valley’s largest fraud case”, he said he operated as “full-time member” of the legal team “and worked tirelessly to prove my innocence”.

He wrote on his LinkedIn page: “Acquitted in June 2024 and now looking to help growing companies achieve their goals. I have acquired 20 years of experience in finance and operations working on IPO, M&A, fundraising and integrations.”

On X, he described himself as “husband, father, ultra runner, vets footballer, 2021 Dragons Back Race and 2023 Winter Spine finisher”.

A Darktrace spokesperson told the Cambridge Independent: “We are incredibly saddened to hear of the tragic death of Steve Chamberlain, Darktrace’s former chief operating officer and a substantial contributor to the team in its early years. Steve was much loved by his colleagues and leaves many friends at Darktrace. We extend our deepest condolences to his wife, Karen, and the rest of his family who are very much in our thoughts at this challenging time.”

While news of Mr Chamberlain’s death was confirmed, the search for Dr Lynch, his daughter Hannah and four other passengers of the British-flagged superyacht, named Bayesian, was continuing off the coast of Sicily.

Fifteen people including Dr Lynch’s wife, Angela Bacares, were rescued, according to local media.

A body, believed to be that of the vessel’s cook, has been found and police divers are trying to reach the hull of the ship, which is resting at a depth of 50 metres.

It capsized at about 5am local time off the coast of Palermo when the area was hit by a tornado.

One of the survivors was British tourist Charlotte Golunski, who works for Invoke Capital, a company founded by Dr Lynch that has a Cambridge base in JJ Thompson Avenue.

She told la Reppublica she held her one-year-old daughter, Sofia, afloat to stop her from drowning.