Greek taxi driver not guilty of Tadley teenager's murder

However Stelios Morfis was convicted of a lesser charge of unintentional killing - a verdict condemned by the victim's family.
Robert Sebbage was fatally stabbed while on holiday in Laganas in Zakynthos, Greece on July 13 last year.
The trial of 22-year-old Morfis, who had denied the murder charge, ended in the city of Patras today (Wednesday), following which Mr Morfis was found not guilty of murder, with no intent to kill the 18-year-old.
Robert’s parents, Rhian and Andy, have been in Greece throughout the hearing, which started on September 3, but told Newburytoday they were not ready to make any comments about the trial immediately after it ended.
Andy Granston, father of Steven Granston - who was among four of Robert’s friends stabbed in the incident, said Mr and Mrs Sebbage had walked out of the court after the verdict was pronounced:
“The whole family was shocked and I am also shocked (at the verdict),” said Mr Granston, who flew back to the UK last Wednesday (Sep 12).
“The family have had a horrendous experience,” he said.
Mr Sebbage – a Reading Football Club fan, who bravely battled a rare bowel condition, earning him chance to walk out as an England mascot at Wembley with David Beckham in June 2008 – was holidaying with fellow former Hurst Community College pupils, Jordan Manson, Samuel Champion, Steven Granston and Callum Lane, when he died.
The family was assisted by a Greek speaking solicitor at the trial, delayed according to the Sebbage family, due to lengthy court procedures involving the evidence of English-speaking witnesses, including Robert’s friends, being translated into Greek.
The family party included Robert’s brother, Martin, aged 24, and five of Robert’s friends, among a 22-strong group who initially flew out to Greece for the court hearing.
Following last year’s stabbing in Greece, North East Hampshire coroner, Andrew Bradley, later recorded a verdict of unlawful killing at Basingstoke Coroner’s Court.
The inquest heard that the group had got into an altercation with the taxi driver outside McDonalds.
After making threats to Mr Sebbage with a baseball bat the taxi driver returned to his car and some of the group shone a laser pen at him, the court heard.
Mr Manson was the most seriously hurt of Robert’s friends, suffering a collapsed lung after he was chased into an alleyway and stabbed following the fatal attack on Mr Sebbage.
Robert was also a member of Tadley Calleva Youth Football Team since the age of seven