Family arrive for trial of medics

Christopher Rochester died in Rhodes in June 2000

A County Durham family have arrived on a Greek island in readiness for the trial of medical staff accused over the death of their son.

Christopher Rochester, 24, from Chester-le-Street, fell 40 feet from a ledge in Faliraki and died in Rhodes Town Hospital in June 2000.

In May 2003, the trial of three doctors and two nurses charged in connection with his death, was adjourned for a second time.

Now the family have arrived in Rhodes, where a new hearing is due to take place on 24 September.

Christopher's mother, Pam Cummings, said: "We are nervous about what is going to happen. Our major concern is that we get across there and it is adjourned again.

"If the trial does not go ahead this time, the Greek authorities better have a good reason as it will reflect very badly on their justice system.

"We are hoping to secure a conviction this time, but whatever happens we think it will end up going to appeal and that will drag it out by at least 18 months."

A 12-strong party of family and friends left Newcastle Airport on Saturday.

They are due to be joined before the trial by Durham North MP Kevan Jones, who was with the family in May.

The apartments where Christopher Rochester fell

A UK inquest into Mr Rochester's death heard allegations that his injuries were not properly diagnosed and that he should not have died.

It was also discovered when his body was returned to Britain that one of his kidneys had been removed without the knowledge of his family.

The inquest was told it appeared a Greek pathologist, who carried out an autopsy on Mr Rochester's body, swapped one of his kidneys with someone else's organ before returning the body to the dead man's family.

Three doctors and two nurses were subsequently accused of causing Mr Rochester's death by negligence.

Mr Rochester, a bar manager, had flown to Rhodes, where his brother Keith managed a nightclub, to look for work.

He fell from the balcony after being on the island for just one day.

Last May's hearing in Rhodes was described as "a farce" by Mr Rochester's family.

One of the accused doctors and a nurse failed to turn up and the lawyer for another defendant left to attend a higher court.

Mr Rochester's stepfather George Cummings said: "We have been made aware of new evidence which could prove crucial and have also been informed that defendants need a very good reason to adjourn for a third time.

"This case has already been adjourned twice and we are very hopeful it will now go ahead."