Luke Walker returns home (From Stourbridge News)

Luke Walker returns home

4:30pm Wednesday 24th October 2012 in News

BRIERLEY Hill man Luke Walker, who is accused of murdering his girlfriend in Crete, has returned home for the first time in two-and-a-half years after being released on bail.

The 24-year-old, who has strenuously denied killing 20-year-old Chelsea Hyndman, flew back home with mum Lindy, aged 61, and dad Patrick, aged 55, last night (Tuesday).

The family touched down at Heathrow and Luke has now returned to his home in Gayfield Avenue - which he has not seen since before he and Chelsea from Yorkshire headed off to Malia in spring 2010.

Luke was told the surprise news that he could return home last Tuesday (October 16) when his long-awaited trial at the Mixed Criminal Court in Heraklion was adjourned just an hour after proceedings got underway.

The out of the blue decision left the Walkers and supporters in complete shock - as they have spent the last two-and-a-half years fighting to clear Luke’s name and to bring him home.

He still must return to the holiday island to face trial but a further date has not yet been set.

The Walkers believe it will be into 2013 before they have to return to Greece which they have been travelling back and forth to ever since Luke was arrested in May 2010.

He spent 150 days after his arrest behind bars - locked up in a Greek prison cell.

Although later released on bail he was ordered to remain in Crete until the case went to court.

Proceedings finally looked set to get underway last week but two key prosecution witnesses failed to attend court Luke was finally granted bail to return to the UK.

Greek authorities believe Luke killed Chelsea with a blow to her stomach but friends of the couple claim the bubbly blonde’s injuries may have resulted from a fall on a girls’ night out in the coastal party town of Malia.

Chelsea, who lived in Castleford, Yorkshire, died from ruptured internal organs after being taken to hospital complaining of stomach pains.

Medics decided to operate and Luke says the last time he saw his girlfriend of three years was as she went off to surgery.

He said: “The last thing she said to me was ‘thankyou’ and she gave me a kiss. I just don’t understand what happened.”

Chelsea’s mum Heather Hyndman, who went out to Crete for last week’s hearing with partner Neil Lorriman and daughter Mia, has always said she will be guided by the evidence presented in court before deciding whether Luke is innocent or guilty.

Friends and family of the devastated mum from Castleford in Yorkshire have now set up a Facebook page for a fund created for Chelsea - and they are now selling wristbands and organising a fun run in her memory.