A Kent businessman on trial in Italy accused of killing two fishermen while allegedly drink-driving has been found dead.

Stephen Collins, 37, from Rainham, was said to be six times over the drink-drive limit when his rental car crashed into another vehicle driven by two fishermen.

He was charged with multiple aggravated manslaughter.

On December 19 last year Collins was allegedly behind the wheel of a rented Audi, which collided with a Volkswagon Polo in the small costal town of Martinsicuro on the east coast of Italy.

The court heard how the impact of the crash pushed the Polo into a crash barrier, decapitating one of the men and forcing the other through the windscreen.

Graziani Battistelli, 52, and 41-year-old Marco Iampieri were killed instantly. The two fishermen were on their way to work at a local fishing port.

Stephen Collins lived in Rainham, but was previously from Maidstone and went to school in Sutton Valence.

His family live in a farmhouse in Ashford.

He was the father of two young children - one of whom is just three months old, born since his arrest.

In January Collins was granted house arrest and was staying in a small town called Ladispoli, near Rome.

Tonight Stephen Collins solicitor, Massimilliano Dei, confirmed his body was found by his brother at 9am.

It is believed he died in his sleep. Collins had been complaining of chest pains, and was due to attend a hospital appointment this morning.

On Wednesday, Stephen Collins was in court in Teramo for his second appearance in the trial against him.

His aunt and brother had flown to Italy to support him. His solicitor says they are both in shock and have returned to UK this evening.

Just before the trial he spoke to our reporter, and complained about how slowly the case was proceeding. He spoke of his stress, and how much he missed his children.

The two victims were from a close-knit fishing community.

Hundreds of people turned out for their funeral in December.

Relatives of the victims cried in court on Wednesday as they heard details about the accident from an army captain who was one of the first on the scene.

Stephen Collins denied the charges against him, and his defence sought to prove that Stephen wasn’t driving at the time of the accident.

He claims there were others in the car, who fled the scene.

A post-mortem will be carried out in the next 48 hours.