Chelsea's mum tells of court blunder as Luke Walker trial nears (From Stourbridge News)

Chelsea's mum tells of court blunder as Luke Walker trial nears

2:41pm Monday 10th September 2012 in News

THE heartbroken mum of Chelsea Hyndman has spoken of her distress after the tragic 20-year-old was called as a witness to appear at her Black Country boyfriend’s trial over her death.

Bungling Greek authorities sent a court summons to the home of the young Yorkshire woman, who died in Crete two years ago, calling for her to attend the trial of Brierley Hill barman Luke Walker who is accused of killing her.

Chelsea’s devastated mum Heather Hyndman, aged 47, said she “felt sick” when she saw the letter asking for her daughter’s attendance at the trial which is scheduled to start in Heraklion on October 16.

She told the News: “I couldn’t believe it.

“I’m so angry - it seems to bring it all back again. Every time I think I’m coping something like this comes along and it’s one step forward, two steps back.

“I’ve always said I’d try to keep a low profile - but I just couldn’t do it anymore.”

Chelsea and Luke, who had been dating for three years, had been planning to spend the summer season in Malia when tragedy struck.

The bubbly blonde from Castleford, Yorkshire, died of ruptured internal organs after being admitted to hospital in Heraklion.

Friends of the couple say Chelsea’s injuries may have stemmed from a fall on an earlier girls’ night out but Greek officials claimed they were the result of a beating at the hands of Luke.

The former Thorns Community College student was arrested immediately and spent 150 days in jail before being released on bail - with the condition that he does not leave Greece ahead of the trial.

Luke, aged 24, of Gayfield Avenue, is charged with causing death by actual bodily harm but he and his family have vigorously protested his innocence since his arrest in May 2010.

Chelsea’s mother, however, admitted she’s struggling to believe Walker’s story.

She said: “I find it hard to believe he’s innocent. I did like Luke but I know they did fall out and argue.”

She said she has many unanswered questions about Chelsea’s final days and hours but she added: “I’m going to go with the evidence.”

She said at least after the trial, which is due to run for four weeks, “it will be all over and done with” but she said she and her family have received no assistance from the Greek or UK authorities as the court case nears.

And it was only as a result of the court summons blunder that she learned of the date of the trial which she plans to attend with her partner Neil Lorriman and her daughter Mia, aged eight.