Retrial date set for Tadley teenager's Greek killer
The family said that the jail term did not reflect the horrific crime. The retrial is to take place on June 11, 2014, in a Greek Court of Appeal.
Robert Sebbage, aged 18, the son of Andy and Rhian Sebbage, of Weyhill Close, was killed while on holiday in Laganas, in Zante, Greece, in July 2011.
Robert’s mother, Rhian Sebbage, said this week: “The four boys, [Robert’s school friends and main witnesses], Martin [Robert’s brother] and I will be summoned back, we have been told for sure. As for the other witnesses we will have to wait and see.
“We have to go through all the events of that night. Each witness will be requestioned by both sides, as well as the president, judge and jury.”
Mrs Sebbage said that the family was in the process of putting together a letter to the British Foreign Office, appealing for help.
“We are hoping they will support us more than in the last trial.”
The Tadley community have rallied round the family’s efforts to raise some £60,000 towards legal and travel costs via their Out of the Blue campaign.
“We are still fund-raising as we still have had no payment from the Greek authorities,” said Mrs Sebbage.
The family appealed the decision of first trial in Greece in September 2012 when 22-year-old Stelios Morfis was found guilty of the unintentional manslaughter of Robert Sebbage, for which he was given six years, and four counts of causing life-threatening bodily injuries to four of Robert’s friends, fellow former pupils of The Hurst Community College, Jordan Manson, Steven Granston, Callum Lane and Sam Champion, for which he was given two years for each act.
Two further years were added on to the sentence, one for carrying an offensive weapon and one for using it, resulting in a total sentence of 16 years of imprisonment – reduced to 11 because the sentences will be served concurrently.
Following sentencing, the Sebbages walked out of the court in disgust.
The Out of the Blue campaign was so named to reflect the colour of Robert’s favourite Reading FC football team, the ‘Royals’. For more information, visit outoftheblue-rjs.co.uk