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| Chelsea Hyndman Crete murder trial: Luke Walker 'beat' girlfriend | Chelsea Hyndman Crete murder trial: Luke Walker 'beat' girlfriend |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A man accused of murdering his girlfriend in Crete beat her, a trial on the Greek island has heard. | A man accused of murdering his girlfriend in Crete beat her, a trial on the Greek island has heard. |
| Luke Walker, 25, from Brierley Hill, West Midlands, denies killing Chelsea Hyndman, 20, from Castleford, West Yorkshire, on the island in May 2010. | Luke Walker, 25, from Brierley Hill, West Midlands, denies killing Chelsea Hyndman, 20, from Castleford, West Yorkshire, on the island in May 2010. |
| The electrician broke down in tears as one witness, a friend of the couple, said he "loved her 100%". | The electrician broke down in tears as one witness, a friend of the couple, said he "loved her 100%". |
| However, in statements read out to the court it was claimed Mr Walker had hit and kicked his girlfriend. | However, in statements read out to the court it was claimed Mr Walker had hit and kicked his girlfriend. |
| Ms Hyndman was admitted to hospital in Heraklion with abdominal pains on 16 May 2010 and died from acute peritonitis the following day. | Ms Hyndman was admitted to hospital in Heraklion with abdominal pains on 16 May 2010 and died from acute peritonitis the following day. |
| Mr Walker, who lived with his girlfriend in the resort town of Malia, claims she was injured when she fell over on a night out with friends. | Mr Walker, who lived with his girlfriend in the resort town of Malia, claims she was injured when she fell over on a night out with friends. |
| On Tuesday, the trial in Heraklion heard evidence from Louise Purdy, who had been on a night out with Ms Hyndman on 6 May. | |
| She said the 20-year-old had fallen over on a cobbled street, landing with her left hand under her body near her stomach area. | |
| 'Who's Jessie?' | 'Who's Jessie?' |
| However, in a series of statements read out in court, it was claimed Mr Walker had previously struck his girlfriend. | However, in a series of statements read out in court, it was claimed Mr Walker had previously struck his girlfriend. |
| One letter claiming to be from a woman who signed her name only as "Jessie", said Mr Walker was sometimes jealous of other men talking to Ms Hyndman, particularly when he was drunk. | One letter claiming to be from a woman who signed her name only as "Jessie", said Mr Walker was sometimes jealous of other men talking to Ms Hyndman, particularly when he was drunk. |
| The writer of the letter claimed to know of two occasions when Mr Walker had beaten Ms Hyndman and kicked her in the stomach. | The writer of the letter claimed to know of two occasions when Mr Walker had beaten Ms Hyndman and kicked her in the stomach. |
| "All do not know what goes on behind closed doors and they are too scared to come out to tell you," the letter added. | "All do not know what goes on behind closed doors and they are too scared to come out to tell you," the letter added. |
| Mr Walker's friends and family shouted out in court as it was read and asked: "Jessie? Who's Jessie?" | Mr Walker's friends and family shouted out in court as it was read and asked: "Jessie? Who's Jessie?" |
| 'Intense arguments' | 'Intense arguments' |
| Another document submitted to the court was purportedly sent to Greek police by a "Peter Rogers". | Another document submitted to the court was purportedly sent to Greek police by a "Peter Rogers". |
| In it, he said he had overheard a conversation in which Mr Walker's father, Patrick, said his son had admitted hitting Ms Hyndman. | In it, he said he had overheard a conversation in which Mr Walker's father, Patrick, said his son had admitted hitting Ms Hyndman. |
| Mr Walker's barrister George Pyromallis questioned the documents, saying they could easily be fake and he was uneasy about them being allowed in evidence. | Mr Walker's barrister George Pyromallis questioned the documents, saying they could easily be fake and he was uneasy about them being allowed in evidence. |
| In a statement read to the court from Eda Quirici, who lived in the apartment below Mr Walker and Ms Hyndman, said she often heard "intense arguments" between the pair. | In a statement read to the court from Eda Quirici, who lived in the apartment below Mr Walker and Ms Hyndman, said she often heard "intense arguments" between the pair. |
| "These arguments were so intense, so fierce, that I could not sleep for the noise." | "These arguments were so intense, so fierce, that I could not sleep for the noise." |
| In her statement she said that, although she was not absolutely certain of the date, she remembers hearing an argument and shouting and screams at about 04:00 on 12 May. | In her statement she said that, although she was not absolutely certain of the date, she remembers hearing an argument and shouting and screams at about 04:00 on 12 May. |
| She said: "I heard the girl screaming like someone does like when someone is being chased or being beaten. | She said: "I heard the girl screaming like someone does like when someone is being chased or being beaten. |
| "I heard furniture being dragged about like when someone is trying to chase a person." | "I heard furniture being dragged about like when someone is trying to chase a person." |
| Another witness, a friend of Ms Hyndman, however, described the couple as very much in love, with a strong relationship. | Another witness, a friend of Ms Hyndman, however, described the couple as very much in love, with a strong relationship. |
| Giving evidence, Lyndsay Williamson said: "My impression of Luke was the same as Chelsea's impression of Luke - they wanted to be together, they wanted a future together, they wanted to get married, they wanted to have children." | Giving evidence, Lyndsay Williamson said: "My impression of Luke was the same as Chelsea's impression of Luke - they wanted to be together, they wanted a future together, they wanted to get married, they wanted to have children." |
| She added: "They were a little bit jealous of each other's past relationships with other people, but not with any malice." | She added: "They were a little bit jealous of each other's past relationships with other people, but not with any malice." |
| 'Stomach cramps' | |
| Five days after falling over on a night out, Ms Williamson said she had noticed a change in her friend. | Five days after falling over on a night out, Ms Williamson said she had noticed a change in her friend. |
| She said the two of them had spent time at the beach on 11 May 2010 and they had both been badly burned by the sun. | She said the two of them had spent time at the beach on 11 May 2010 and they had both been badly burned by the sun. |
| Ms Williamson told the court she saw her again the following day and said Ms Hyndman was being sick, had stomach cramps and thought she had sunstroke. | Ms Williamson told the court she saw her again the following day and said Ms Hyndman was being sick, had stomach cramps and thought she had sunstroke. |
| A letter was also read to the court that Ms Hyndman's mother Heather, who was in court, wrote to Mr Walker when he was in prison. He was later granted bail. | |
| In it she wrote: "Luke, I know you and Chelsea love each other dearly. I can't believe it's ended like this. | |
| "I'm sorry I haven't come to see you, I hope you can understand why. There's so many things going through my mind. | |
| "I hope things work out for you. I hope things will end soon so my baby can rest in peace." | |
| The trial continues | The trial continues |