A MAN who was due to stand trial accused of murdering his mother nearly 20 years ago, has been found dead in Spain. 

Sean Flynn, aged 37, has taken his own life, according to his solicitor Aamer Anwar, who has been informed by police.

A warrant for his arrest was issued on Tuesday after he failed to appear at the High Court in Livingston accused of murdering his mother Louise Tiffney, who disappeared in 2002. 

He had previously lodged pleas of not guilty to the charges and until recently had been living in Berlin.

In a statement, 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.”

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He added: “Any loss of life is a tragedy, Sean Flynn’s next of kin has been informed and there will be no further comment.”

Louise Tiffney was 43 when she disappeared in May 2002. Her body was not found and Flynn at the time aged 21, was prosecuted in 2005 but acquitted at Perth High Court of murdering his mother. 

He had maintained his innocence throughout the 22 day trial and claimed his mother had walked out after a row.

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But in April 2017, Louise Tiffney’s remains were found in a shallow grave, near a stately home in Longniddry, East Lothian and a fresh prosecution was brought by the Crown on the basis of Double Jeopardy legislation, because of the emergence of new evidence.

It was alleged that Mr Flynn had murdered his mother and attempted to defeat the ends of justice by placing her body in the boot of his car, a Nissan Almera and driving to a wooded area and disposing of it.