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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Scot killed 'violently' in Spain | Scot killed 'violently' in Spain |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Spanish police are investigating what they describe as the "violent" death of a Scottish businessman in Barcelona. | Spanish police are investigating what they describe as the "violent" death of a Scottish businessman in Barcelona. |
| Derek Cowan, 46, originally from Lanarkshire, was discovered in his apartment in the city on 8 October. | Derek Cowan, 46, originally from Lanarkshire, was discovered in his apartment in the city on 8 October. |
| The Scot, who settled in Spain several years ago, after living in London, was reportedly found in a pool of blood. | |
| In a statement on their website, Spanish police said they were awaiting results of a post-mortem examination to determine whether he had been murdered. | In a statement on their website, Spanish police said they were awaiting results of a post-mortem examination to determine whether he had been murdered. |
| A Foreign Office spokeswoman said: "I can confirm the death of Derek Cowan, aged 46, in Spain. | A Foreign Office spokeswoman said: "I can confirm the death of Derek Cowan, aged 46, in Spain. |
| "Next-of-kin have been informed in the UK. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office are in contact with the Spanish authorities who are looking into this." | "Next-of-kin have been informed in the UK. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office are in contact with the Spanish authorities who are looking into this." |
| The inquiry has been referred to the Barcelona police homicide squad. He had a nice lifestyle in Barcelona and I'm not aware of him having any problems. He had lots of friends out there. John Irvine Friend | The inquiry has been referred to the Barcelona police homicide squad. He had a nice lifestyle in Barcelona and I'm not aware of him having any problems. He had lots of friends out there. John Irvine Friend |
| Mr Cowan grew up in Lanarkshire and, according to his entry on the Friend's Reunited website, attended Lanark Grammar School and Larkhall Academy. | Mr Cowan grew up in Lanarkshire and, according to his entry on the Friend's Reunited website, attended Lanark Grammar School and Larkhall Academy. |
| On the site Mr Cowan wrote: "Have travelled extensively, living in London, Manila and now settled (for the time being) in Barcelona. | On the site Mr Cowan wrote: "Have travelled extensively, living in London, Manila and now settled (for the time being) in Barcelona. |
| "Living with Spanish girlfriend and working as a currency trader in the sun." | "Living with Spanish girlfriend and working as a currency trader in the sun." |
| It is understood Mr Cowan ran his own business with a German partner. | It is understood Mr Cowan ran his own business with a German partner. |
| John Irvine, 46, a close friend of Mr Cowan, told the BBC Scotland news website: "He was a very likeable character, very good fun, entertaining and sociable. | John Irvine, 46, a close friend of Mr Cowan, told the BBC Scotland news website: "He was a very likeable character, very good fun, entertaining and sociable. |
| "A group of us all used to go out to the pubs and clubs in Hamilton when we were younger. He was a very decent fellow who will be sadly missed. | "A group of us all used to go out to the pubs and clubs in Hamilton when we were younger. He was a very decent fellow who will be sadly missed. |
| "It is a terrible thing that has happened. It was a shock for all who knew and cared about him. I'm absolutely shattered with it." | "It is a terrible thing that has happened. It was a shock for all who knew and cared about him. I'm absolutely shattered with it." |
| Funeral arrangements | Funeral arrangements |
| Mr Irvine, who runs a scaffolding firm in Hamilton, South Lanarkshire, said he had visited Mr Cowan in Barcelona in March this year and spoke to him often on the telephone. | Mr Irvine, who runs a scaffolding firm in Hamilton, South Lanarkshire, said he had visited Mr Cowan in Barcelona in March this year and spoke to him often on the telephone. |
| He said: "We laughed a lot. He had a nice lifestyle in Barcelona and I'm not aware of him having any problems. He had lots of friends out there. | He said: "We laughed a lot. He had a nice lifestyle in Barcelona and I'm not aware of him having any problems. He had lots of friends out there. |
| "Derek did not deserve to be murdered." | "Derek did not deserve to be murdered." |
| Mr Irvine said that he and Mr Cowan's other friends would probably organise a funeral for him, which would take place in Spain. | Mr Irvine said that he and Mr Cowan's other friends would probably organise a funeral for him, which would take place in Spain. |
| It is understood Mr Cowan's mother and half-brother live in London. | It is understood Mr Cowan's mother and half-brother live in London. |