Final bid to prevent exhumation

Mr Rochester died of internal bleeding at Andreas Papandreou hospital

The family of a County Durham tourist who died in Rhodes have compiled a dossier of evidence in a bid to prevent the "needless" exhumation of his body.

Christopher Rochester died in 2000 when he fell from a balcony, and was missing a kidney when his body was flown home.

An organ later sent out failed a DNA match, but Greek authorities have demanded further samples from the body.

The dossier was handed to a diplomat from the country during a high-profile meeting at Durham Police headquarters.

Those present at Friday's talks included Durham North MP Kevan Jones and Professor John Burn, head of Newcastle University's Institute of Human Genetics, who carried out the tests on the kidney.

Prof Burn established with 99% certainty that the organ was not Mr Rochester's by comparing it with DNA material taken from a biopsy the 24-year-old underwent before died.

Other genetic evidence, including strands of hair, are also readily available.

Speaking after the meeting, Prof Burn said: "I'm not happy with the suggestion that Chris be exhumed - I think it's a delaying tactic.

Pam and George Cummings say they will allow the exhumation if necessary

"If this were a murder investigation we'd have more than enough evidence to prove a DNA match, so it's certainly sufficient for this case."

The Greek authorities will now consider the report before deciding whether to press ahead with the exhumation.

Mr Rochester's stepfather, George Cummings said: "If they don't accept the evidence then we'll have to allow the exhumation

"If we refuse, the Greeks will say we're not co-operating and they will close the case. That's not going to happen."

If it is agreed that the organ is not Mr Rochester's, an independent inquiry into the matter will be carried out in France or Belgium.

Mr and Mrs Cummings, of Chester-le-Street, fought a seven-year-campaign to convict a doctor of manslaughter by neglect over Mr Rochester's death.

In February a Greek doctor, Stergios Pavlidis, was convicted and sentenced to 15 months in jail, suspended for three years, following a private prosecution by the family.