BRIERLEY Hill man Luke Walker has failed to overturn his conviction for killing his girlfriend in Crete.
The 27-year-old had been hoping to clear his name after he was found guilty in 2013 of causing grievous bodily harm leading to the death of 20-year-old Chelsea Hyndman while the couple were living and working on the Greek holiday isle in 2010.
An eight-year jail sentence meted out was suspended after he lodged an appeal which was finally heard at the Mixed Criminal Court in Heraklion on March 11 and 12.
But Walker's protestations of innocence fell on deaf ears and he was unable to overturn the conviction.
His sentence was, however, reduced to three-years imprisonment - suspended for three years.
Luke's lawyer Georgios Pyromallis said it was "uncommon" for a sentence to be reduced in this way for such a serious crime.
Barman turned electrician Luke was originally charged with murder after Chelsea from Yorkshire died from ruptured internal organs on May17 2010 and he spent 150 days in a Greek jail before being released on bail but the charge was later reduced to GBH leading to death.
Luke's parents Patrick and Lindy have spent almost five years campaigning to clear their son's name - wracking up huge legal bills and costs which rocketed over the £200,000 mark and forced them to sell their family home in Gayfield Avenue last year.
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