**A convicted murderer who escaped from a Scottish open prison has been found dead in a West African holiday resort, the Foreign Office have confirmed.**John Brown, convicted of murder in 1976, absconded from Castle Huntly prison near Dundee after he was let out on home leave in May.
The 57-year-old’s body was found in the Gambia on 29 November.
A Foreign Office spokesman said: “We can confirm the death of a British national in the Gambia.”
He added: “Next of kin have been informed and we are providing consular assistance.”
Brown’s escape had been described by the authorities as being “completely out of character”.
At the time, Justice Minister Kenny MacAskill was put under pressure to resign as the escape followed that of armed robber Brian Martin, known as “The Hawk”, who also went on the run from Castle Huntly.
Brown previously lived and worked in both Glasgow and Edinburgh.