Edinburgh Murder Suspect Found Dead in Jail Before Trial 2026

Key Points

• Lee Greenan, 46, was charged with murdering his former partner Vikki Soloman, 44, at a house in Edinburgh’s Craigievar Square on Monday, 20 July 2026.
• Greenan appeared at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Thursday, 24 July, made no plea to three charges (assault to injury, murder and assault), and was remanded in custody, due back in court within eight days.
• Police Scotland confirmed Greenan was found dead at HMP Edinburgh on Sunday morning around 08:55, with no suspicious circumstances.
• Officers are not seeking anyone else in connection with Soloman’s death, Police Scotland said.
• Soloman, a local businesswoman and owner of Vikki Soloman Aesthetics, was pronounced dead at the scene after being found with serious injuries.
• Edinburgh North Western MSP Alex Cole-Hamilton said the case highlighted the need to protect women and children from domestic violence.

Edinburgh (Edinburgh Daily) July 27, 2026 — A man charged with murdering his former partner has been found dead in custody at HMP Edinburgh, bringing a sudden end to a high-profile case that began with a fatal disturbance in the city’s East Craigs area earlier this month.

What happened in the Craigievar Square murder case?

Lee Greenan, 46, was accused of killing Vikki Soloman, 44, at a house on Craigievar Square in Edinburgh on Monday, 20 July 2026. Police Scotland said Soloman, who worked as an aesthetician and owned Vikki Soloman Aesthetics, was found with serious injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. Emergency services had been called to the property following a disturbance, according to earlier bulletins from the BBC.

Greenan was arrested and charged in connection with Soloman’s death. He appeared before Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Thursday, 24 July, where he made no plea to three separate charges: assault to injury, murder and a further assault charge. The court remanded him in custody, with a return to the dock scheduled within eight days.

How did police and prosecutors respond to the death in custody?

On Sunday morning, Police Scotland said it was made aware of the death of a 46-year-old man at HMP Edinburgh at around 08:55. A force spokesperson stated:

“Around 8.55am on Sunday, we were made aware of the death of a 46-year-old man at HMP Edinburgh. There do not appear to be any suspicious circumstances and a report will be submitted to the procurator fiscal.”

Police also confirmed that officers are not looking for anyone else in connection with Soloman’s death, indicating that the investigation into the homicide itself is effectively closed with Greenan as the sole suspect.

What did the Scottish Prison Service say?

The Scottish Prison Service (SPS) issued a brief statement following Greenan’s death.

“Every death, whether in prison custody or in our communities, is a tragedy for all those who knew and supported the individual,”

the SPS said. It added that following the death of someone in its care, Police Scotland is advised and the matter reported to the procurator fiscal, with fatal accident inquiries held in due course.

What is known about the victim, Vikki Soloman?

Vikki Soloman, 44, was described in police statements and media reports as an aesthetician and local businesswoman who owned Vikki Soloman Aesthetics in Edinburgh. She was found at the Craigievar Square address on the evening of 20 July and pronounced dead at the scene. Tributes and detailed personal background have not been widely published in early reporting, with coverage focused primarily on the criminal proceedings and the subsequent death in custody.

Scottish Liberal Democrats leader Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh North Western, said he had worked closely with Soloman as new laws governing the beauty and aesthetics sector passed through Holyrood in March.

What did politicians and community figures say?

Alex Cole-Hamilton reacted to Greenan’s death in custody with a statement focusing on the impact on Soloman’s family and the wider issue of domestic violence. “This is a shocking development,” he said.

“Deaths in custody always lead to searching questions for the prison service. However, my thoughts today turn to Vikki’s family who may be denied answers about why Vikki was snatched from them at such a young age.”

He added: “Her death is a stark reminder of how far we need to travel as a society to make sure women and children are safe from men’s violence in their own homes.”

What are the next steps in the legal process?

In Scotland, when a person dies in custody, a report is routinely submitted to the procurator fiscal, who may order further inquiries or a Fatal Accident Inquiry depending on the circumstances. Given the police assessment that there are no suspicious circumstances, the focus is likely to be on confirming the cause and manner of death through standard procedures.

With Greenan’s death, the murder and assault charges against him cannot proceed to trial. However, the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service may still review the wider circumstances of Soloman’s death as part of its statutory duties.

Background: How did this case develop before the death in custody?

The case unfolded rapidly over one week. On Monday, 20 July, emergency services responded to a disturbance at a house in Edinburgh’s East Craigs area, where Soloman was found with serious injuries and later pronounced dead. Police Scotland arrested Greenan and charged him in connection with her death.

Greenan’s first court appearance came on Thursday, 24 July, at Edinburgh Sheriff Court. He faced three charges: assault to injury, murder and a further assault charge. He made no plea and was remanded in custody, with a return to court due within eight days. Less than 72 hours later, on Sunday morning, he was found dead at HMP Edinburgh. Police issued a brief statement confirming the death and noting there were no suspicious circumstances, while also stating that no other person was being sought over Soloman’s killing.

Prediction: How could this development affect families, communities and the justice system?

The death of an accused person in custody before trial can have significant implications for multiple audiences. For families and friends of victims, it can bring an abrupt halt to the prospect of a public trial, potentially leaving unresolved questions about the full circumstances of the offence and limiting opportunities to hear evidence tested in court. For communities in Edinburgh, particularly in East Craigs and surrounding areas, the case underscores concerns about domestic violence and the risks faced by partners and ex-partners, reinforcing calls for early intervention and support services.

For the justice system and prison authorities, the incident is likely to prompt internal reviews of risk assessment and safeguarding procedures for individuals on remand, especially those charged with serious offences and showing signs of acute distress. While police have indicated no suspicious circumstances, any death in custody typically attracts scrutiny from oversight bodies and may influence future policy on mental health support, monitoring regimes, and information-sharing between courts, police and the Scottish Prison Service.