Luke Walker's family may have to sell home

The family of a Black Country man facing murder charges in Greece have today revealed they may have to sell their home to fund the soaring legal fees.

Luke Walker, aged 22, is accused of beating his girlfriend, 21-year-old Chelsea Hyndman, to death. His father Patrick, who is in Crete with wife Lindy and other son Ryan, said the cost of the battle to clear his son's name could be more than £20,000.

"The solicitor fees out here will be at least £5,000, plus extras, and then we have to pay the pathologist bill and the ongoing bill of living over here - we're looking at around £20,000 at the moment, and that doesn't even include the cost of bail," he said.

"We've got to look at all avenues now as it's going to be expensive. One way or another we have got to make sure we can do it - and the biggest asset is the house.

"We will do everything we can to avoid selling it, and we are having a lot of support but it's going to be a long battle."

The family have lived in the house in the Withymoor Village area for just over 13 years, and Mr Walker said it would be "very difficult" to give it up.

"Our kids have grown up there, it's our family home," he said.

"If nothing else, it would be a comfort to Luke when he gets home after all this trauma."

He said the fact he was out in Greece and unable to run his business, Brierley Hill-based Walker's Electrics, was making the situation worse.

Walker is now being represented by solicitor Manos Callerias, after the family fired two previous firms.

"They were quite weak and didn't insist that the interrogator saw our witnesses last week, which she should have done," Mr Walker added.

"Manos was recommended to us by business people in Malia and he is an expert in criminal law, so we are much more confident now."

Mr Walker will be returning to England on Saturday to deal with solicitors from this end.