Man accused of killing mother-of-two takes own life at HMP Edinburgh

A man accused of murdering his former partner in Edinburgh has been found dead in his prison cell, just days after appearing in court charged with stabbing the mother-of-two to death, in a development that has left her family deprived of the closure a trial might have afforded. Lee Greenan, 46, was discovered at HMP Edinburgh on Sunday morning, with police confirming that they were alerted to the death at approximately 8.55am and that there were no apparent suspicious circumstances surrounding the incident, a report now set to be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal. It is understood that Greenan had been on remand at the city's Saughton Prison following his appearance at Edinburgh Sheriff Court last Thursday, where he faced a charge of murder alongside two allegations of assault, making no plea and being remanded in custody. The Scottish Prison Service has confirmed that all such deaths are reported to Police Scotland and the Procurator Fiscal, with fatal accident inquiries held in due course, while a spokesperson for the service expressed condolences, noting that every death in custody is a tragedy for those who knew and supported the individual.

Greenan had been arrested last Monday evening after returning to a pub covered in blood, having allegedly murdered Vikki Soloman, 44, at her home in the city's Craigievar Square earlier that day, an attack that has left her two children bereaved and her community in a state of profound shock. The couple were said to have recently separated, and Greenan was reportedly on a three-day drinking binge following the breakdown of their relationship, a period of heavy consumption that witnesses claimed had culminated in the fatal assault on the beauty salon owner. Her lifeless body was discovered at approximately 8.45pm on the night of the murder, after police were called to the property and forensic teams descended upon the semi-detached house, which was sealed off for a thorough investigation. Greenan, however, had already returned to the Mid Yoken pub in the East Craigs area, approximately a mile from the scene, where his blood-soaked appearance caused alarm among patrons who feared he might still be in possession of the weapon used in the attack, prompting an urgent call to the authorities.

One drinker at the establishment described the atmosphere of fear that gripped the pub, recounting that Greenan had been in the pub earlier that day and had left before returning later, drenched in blood, at which point customers became concerned both for Ms Soloman's welfare and for their own safety. Armed police were dispatched to the scene, and it is understood that Greenan left the pub and went on the run, though officers located him swiftly after a search of the vicinity, apprehending him before any further harm could be done to other members of the public. A local resident, speaking on condition of anonymity, expressed horror at the violence inflicted upon Ms Soloman, describing Greenan's subsequent suicide as the coward's way out and emphasising the devastating impact on her family and children, whose world, they said, had been torn apart. The same source noted that the couple had recently separated and that Greenan had not been coping well with the split, a factor that may have contributed to the events that unfolded.

Tributes have poured in for Ms Soloman, who was remembered as a popular and kind-hearted business owner with a sharp sense of humour, with flowers, cards and a balloon bearing the word "Mum" laid outside her home as an expression of collective grief. One heartfelt message, addressed directly to her, spoke of love that could not be adequately captured in words, while another simply read "Rest in peace Vikki you beautiful girl," capturing the sentiment of a community in mourning. On social media, friends and acquaintances paid their respects, with one describing her as the kindest soul whose loss was incomprehensible, and another reflecting on her wonderful personality, her daft antics and her ever-immaculate appearance, qualities that would be sorely missed. The couple's social media history had previously depicted them looking happy together, adding a further layer of poignancy to the violent turn their relationship had taken.

The Mid Yoken pub was cordoned off as forensic officers conducted their inquiries, and the scene at Craigievar Square remained under police guard as detectives worked to piece together the precise sequence of events that led to Ms Soloman's death. Greenan's court appearance had seen him charged not only with murder but also with two counts of assault, though the details of those allegations have not been made public, and his death in custody now means that no trial will take place. A Police Scotland spokesperson confirmed that the death at HMP Edinburgh was being treated as non-suspicious, with a standard report to be prepared for the Procurator Fiscal, while the Scottish Prison Service reiterated its protocols for investigating deaths in custody. The case has cast a long shadow over the East Craigs community, where the shocking nature of the crime and the subsequent suicide of the accused have left residents grappling with a sense of unresolved justice and profound sadness for the family of the woman who lost her life.