'Intimidation' claim over Greek appeal

Christopher Rochester died in hospital in Rhodes

A County Durham family is blaming "intimidation" for a threat to the justice they are seeking for their son, who died in a Greek hospital.

A court on the island of Rhodes found three doctors guilty of manslaughter by negligence in September 2003, after 24-year-old Christopher Rochester fell from a balcony.

Greek judges agreed the doctors who attended Mr Rochester, from Chester-le-Street, failed to act properly to save his life.

They were each jailed for three years, suspended pending an appeal, which was immediately lodged by their lawyers.

Two nurses also charged, were cleared by the court.

But now the family have been told that no lawyer on the Island has come forward to represent them in the upcoming appeal.

Greek law states that a "local" lawyer must act on their behalf.

I am determined to see that we will get justice for the family. I don't think at this stage we should let this family down. North Durham MP Kevan Jones

The family and their MP believe intimidation is the main reason for the situation, which could see the convicted doctors acquitted by default.

The Rhodes trial heard how a junior doctor who initially treated Mr Rochester had worked two 24-hour shifts at Rhodes Town Hospital.

He tried in vain to contact senior doctors who were not on duty when they should have been.

The defence claimed Mr Rochester was too drunk to co-operate with doctors at the hospital. His family always denied the claim.

'Tortuous saga'

Mr Rochester's step-father George Cummings said: "Under Greek law we would need a solicitor who trained and works on the island for the appeal to go ahead.

"None of them will come forward to represent the family.

"We know this is basically down to intimidation, because the word would go around to everyone not to use them."

North Durham Labour MP Kevan Jones, who has campaigned alongside the family, said: "I am determined to see that we will get justice for the family.

"I don't think that at this stage we should let this family down.

"I've arranged a meeting with the family and the Foreign Office to try and find an end to the cruel and tortuous saga, which this family has endured."

An inquest in Britain recorded a verdict of accidental death contributed to by neglect.

When Mr Rochester's body was returned home it was discovered that one of his kidneys had been taken out after his death.