Murder suspect Luke Walker back in Crete for trial

The 25-year-old, his parents and brother, all from Brierley Hill, flew back to the holiday isle yesterday where they aim to prove he did not kill Chelsea Hyndman.

Seventeen witnesses are lined up – 11 of them friends of both Luke and Chelsea flown out from the UK – in an effort to prove his 20-year-old girlfriend died from the results of a fall on a night out.

The murder trial is due to start on Tuesday. If convicted, he could face a life sentence, which could be about 20 years He said: "I know I'm innocent and feel confident. But there is always doubt about what will happen."

Luke's parents, Patrick and Lindy, have remortgaged the family home in Gayfield Avenue, Brierley Hill.

But they reckon they are still £60,000 in debt as they fund the costs of his defence – £300,000 so far and mounting.

"If he gets a fair trial and there are no lies or deceit, he will be exonerated," said Patrick, aged 57, who runs Walker's Electrics in Brierley Hill.

"It's about four Greek jurors and three judges making up their mind and we can't be 100 per cent about the outcome."

It was three years ago on May 17 that Chelsea, from Castleford in Yorkshire, with whom Luke lived in the resort of Malia, died from an internal injury, which the prosecution claims was caused by Luke.

But friends of the couple said they saw her trip and fall in the street, with her hand clenched underneath her against her stomach, during a girls' night out 10 days earlier.

And the family says a doctor from Athens, who will give evidence at the trial, believes her injury – a ruptured pancreas, leading to blood poisoning – is consistent with the fall. Luke spent six months in a Greek prison as he awaited trial. He was later allowed to return home.

During the past week he has visited many of the friends and relatives who have together raised more than £50,000 towards his defence. He said: "I want to say thank you to all of them for having so much faith and belief in me."