Crete murder trial: Family of accused Luke Walker question evidence

Luke Walker as he leaves Moxed Court in Crete (PA)

There were dramatic scenes today as lawyers and family members questioned evidence offered to a Greek court in the trial of a man accused of murdering his girlfriend.

Luke Walker, 25, denies killing 20-year-old Chelsea Hyndman on the holiday island of Crete three years ago.

During his trial at Heraklion Mixed Criminal Court his barrister George Pyromallis questioned written evidence that claimed to be from two people who knew of the couple and Walker's family.

A typed letter from a woman who gave her name only as "Jessie", dated June 14 2010, said she knew the pair and that when Walker was sober he was fine, but when out drinking he was jealous of other men talking to Miss Hyndman.

It claimed to know of two times when Walker beat Miss Hyndman and kicked her in the stomach.

Walker's friends and family shouted out in court as it was read and asked: "Jessie? Who's Jessie?"

Another document submitted to the court that was sent to Greek Police from a man named as Peter Rogers, said he had overheard a conversation between Walker's father Patrick and a friend at an event in the West Midlands in which he is claimed to have said that Walker admitted to him he had hit Miss Hyndman when he was drunk.

Mr Pyromallis told the court that the documents could easily be false and he was uneasy about them being allowed in evidence.

"It is troubling how this paper can appear in the case file and it could easily be forged," he said.

The court was also read a statement from Eda Quirici, a neighbour of Walker and Miss Hyndman, who said she often heard "intense arguments" between the pair.

She lived in the apartment below them, and said: "These arguments were so intense, so fierce, that I could not sleep for the noise."

In her statement she said that though she was not absolutely certain of the date, she remembers hearing an argument in the apartment at around 4am on May 12 when she returned home from her bar job.

"I heard the girl screaming like someone does like when someone is being chased or being beaten.

"I heard furniture being dragged about like when someone is trying to chase a person."

Earlier Walker, of Brierley Hill near Dudley, West Midlands, burst into tears as he listened to a friend describe his relationship with Miss Hyndman, who was from Castleford in West Yorkshire.

Lyndsay Williamson, who had been friends with Miss Hyndman since 2007, said the couple had fallen in love quickly and their two-year relationship was strong.

Fighting back tears she told the court: "He loved her 100%.

"My impression of Luke was the same as Chelsea's impression of Luke - they wanted to be together, they wanted a future together, they wanted to get married, they wanted to have children."

Miss Hyndman was admitted to hospital in Heraklion, Crete, with abdominal pains on May 16 and died the following day as a result of acute peritonitis.

Walker, an electrician who was living in the resort town of Malia where he and Miss Hyndman worked in bars, claims she fell during a night out.

The court heard from Miss Williamson that he and Miss Hyndman were "very much in love" and "felt invincible".

Miss Williamson said Miss Hyndman had been like her "little sister" and she would have known if anything bad had happened to her or if anyone had hurt her.

James Sharp, Miss Williamson's partner, said Walker and Miss Hyndman's relationship was strong.

"It was a good relationship," he told the court.

"We did a lot of things together as partners, me and my partner and Luke and Chelsea together.

"Going round for barbecues...it was a good relationship."

Mr Sharp and Miss Williamson lived in an apartment opposite the couple and he told the court he would have been in a position to hear if they had an argument at home.

He said he was in bed at home on the night that it is alleged there was a row between the pair.

He was asked if it was possible if there had been a "huge argument or a tremendous noise" that he would have been woken up, and he answered "possibly".

A letter was also read to the court that Miss Hyndman's mother Heather, who was in court, wrote to Walker when he was in prison. He has since been granted bail by the court.

In it she wrote: "Luke, I know you and Chelsea love each other dearly.

"I can't believe it's ended like this.

"I'm sorry I haven't come to see you, I hope you can understand why. There's so many things going through my mind."

She said: "Chelsea's coming home with me tomorrow" and said she would take care of her.

She told Walker: "I hope things work out for you" and added: "I hope things will end soon so my baby can rest in peace."

PA