£200k bill for Luke Walker's legal fight
The battle to clear the name of Black Country murder suspect Luke Walker has already cost £200,000 – with the trial yet to come.
Much of the money to cover the legal bills, and the family's travelling expenses to and from Crete, has been raised by friends and relatives of the Walker family. As 24-year-old Luke settled back into his family home in Gayfield Avenue, Brierley Hill, after being allowed to return to England on bail, his parents told of the mounting financial costs of the case.
Their son is accused of beating to death his girlfriend, 20-year-old Chelsea Hyndman, in Crete in May 2010.
But witnesses have come forward to say they saw her fall during a girls' night out 10 days earlier, which he claims must be what caused her injuries.
His mother, Lindy, aged 61, said: "Luke is innocent - and anyone who knows him and our family knows that.
"That's why they have been getting behind us.
"There have been auctions, raffles, discos, a cricket match – all kinds of events – over the last two years, organised by friends and family."
Luke's father, Patrick, aged 55, and mother have already remortgaged their house and relatives have paid towards the legal and other costs.
Mr Walker, who runs Walker's Electrics in Brierley Hill, said: "The total cost of it all so far is about £200,000, most of which is legal fees, but we have also had to pay for Luke's accommodation in Crete and getting there and back. Just one hour in court last week cost £16,000.
"And there is a lot more to come, with the trial expected to last weeks."
