Bail hope of boyfriend facing murder charge

Chelsea Hyndman died on the Greek island on May 17 after suffering ruptured internal organs which doctors said were caused by physical violence.

Her boyfriend Luke Walker, 22, from Brierley Hill, West Midlands, was formally charged with murder three days later and remanded in custody. He hopes to be released on bail before what would have been her 21st birthday, on August 28.

His father Patrick Walker, 53, said: "He wants to get home and he wants his own memorial garden in our back garden.

"He wants to go and visit the grave. He hasn't been able to do that, or to grieve. His hope is to be out for her 21st."

Luke's lawyer will apply for bail but is awaiting the completion of two post-mortem examinations being carried out in Britain, Mr Walker said.

He will also cite witness evidence of Luke's innocence, he added. "There's no evidence against him," he said. "There's not one scrap."

Mr Walker, an electrician, said his son was physically fine but suffering mentally. He said: "Physically he looks really well. He's trying to look after his health. But he's mentally flat.

"No-one speaks English there and he has too much time on his own to mull over what's happened. There's no way he's able to let his grief go. He's lost his girlfriend and they were soul mates."

His mother Lindy, 59, gave up her job as a care assistant to go and be in Crete near her son.

His brother Ryan, 28, has quit working for his father's business and is also staying in Crete indefinitely.

His father said: "It's really hard, as a family. It's dreadful, it's impossible to concentrate on anything else."

Ms Hyndman, from Castleford, West Yorkshire, died a day after she was admitted to hospital in Heraklion – the island's largest city – suffering from severe abdominal pain.

A Facebook group set up by friends of the accused entitled "Luke Walker – Innocent Until Proven Innocent" has attracted almost 4,300 members.