Chelsea Hyndman murder suspect Luke Walker speaks from prison cell to the Sunday Mercury

Jun 27 2010 by Christina Savvas, Sunday Mercury

BLACK Country murder suspect Luke Walker has spoken for the first time from his Greek prison cell about his horror at being accused of killing girlfriend Chelsea Hyndman.

In an exclusive interview with the Sunday Mercury, the 22-year old from Brierley Hill, West Midlands, said: “My life is over without my angel” and revealed that he is desperate to visit her grave.

Luke was arrested last month on suspicion of murder after Chelsea, 20, died in the holiday resort of Malia.

Greek police believe he attacked the pretty holiday worker, from Yorkshire, in a jealous rage, causing the internal injuries which led to her death on May 17.

But Luke and his family are adamant that he is innocent and say crime scene photos and toxicology reports, still being held by Greek authorities, will show she was suffering from pancreatitis.

Luke – speaking to the Sunday Mercury via his brother Ryan – said: “I just want to go and see Chelsea’s family, go to the place where she is buried and lay some flowers myself.

“I want to go and visit all the special places we went together when I used to go and see her in Leeds.

“I want to have a service for Chelsea in our local church so I can say goodbye properly, and have a memorial garden for her at our house.

“My life is over without my angel.”

Luke, who was in a relationship with Chelsea for more than two years, said he was “devastated” that he missed her funeral.

His family fear the language barrier with other inmates means he hasn’t been able to talk about his feelings in prison, leaving him lost and confused.

Older brother Ryan, 28, who has remained in Crete with Luke’s mum Lindy while his father Patrick has returned to meet with the family lawyer, said: “The whole thing has been traumatic, but the day of Chelsea’s funeral was terrible.

“We had to get special permission to visit Luke because it was a non-visit day.

“The prison staff made us wait but eventually we got in to see him.

“They allowed us to be in the same room, albeit with guards, but without the glass and bars. That meant we were able to give him a big hug and a kiss.

“It helped us to be able to finally get hold of him. Luke just kept saying: ‘I should be there’.

“He sent flowers – it was a bunch of roses – and a letter to lay on Chelsea’s coffin, but it wasn’t the same as him being there.

“That’s why he is so desperate to visit her grave.”

Luke and Chelsea had flown out to the Greek Island of Crete with a group of friends on April 23 to work as holiday reps in bars and clubs.

They lived in an apartment block and spent long summer days enjoying barbecues and beach parties in the seaside town of Malia.

But after a night out with girlfriends, Chelsea suffered a fall and became increasingly ill over a period of seven days.

When she visited a local medical centre with Luke, police arrested him and failed to inform him that his girlfriend had later died. He subsequently appeared in court and was charged with her murder.

His legal team in Crete, along with the family’s lawyers back home in the Midlands, are building a defence case, but are struggling to get information from the Greek authorities as the painstaking police investigation continues.

Luke’s older brother and mother are allowed access to the prison three times a week – on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.