Dundee couple launch legal bid to have missing son declared dead

The parents of a Dundee man who has been missing since last summer have launched a bid to have him declared dead.

In a move that has been described as “very unusual” by solicitors, an action has been raised at the city’s sheriff court.

It relates to Jason Sharifi, who was last seen on the Forth Road Bridge in August.

His mum and dad, Siamak and Patricia Sharifi, are asking the court to declare that their son is dead.

The couple say their son, who lived in Craighill Court, Dundee, travelled from Dundee Railway Station on August 26.

Mr Sharifi is known to have boarded the 11.20am train to Edinburgh.

He got off at Inverkeithing and walked to the Forth Road Bridge, arriving there at 1.34pm.

The 25-year-old was last seen at the mid-point of the bridge at around 2.15pm.

The couple have not heard from him since and tributes have been posted on social media.

One solicitor explained that it is generally accepted that someone has to be missing for seven years before they are legally declared dead.

However, he said there are circumstances where this can happen sooner.