The double murder charge against a Cornishman accused of killing his parents, could be dropped because of a lack of evidence.
Ryan
Johnson, 33, last night told the Western Morning News of his relief
following his arrest last year for the murders in Greece.
Speaking from Crete, where the killings took place, he said: "I have always protested my innocence.
"The fact that the Greek police cannot find any evidence to support the charges proves what I have been saying all along.
"It's been hell since my parents were murdered but hopefully these charges will be dropped against me."
The
case against Ryan Johnson began to look shaky a few months ago after
DNA from an unknown man was found under his mother's fingernails.
Police in Crete do not have a DNA database, so it may be impossible to link the new evidence to anyone.
In
March last year the bodies of Terry, 53, and Josephine, 54, from
Newlyn, Cornwall, were found at the family's villa at Almirida in
north-west Crete.
Both had been tied up and strangled with a
washing line. Terry Johnson had been stabbed in the neck several times.
The house had also been burgled. Ryan Johnson, who had been out the
night before, made the grim discovery when he woke up the next morning.
He was arrested and charged within days of the killings, released on bail, although prevented from leaving the island.
The
legal team working for Mr Johnson yesterday confirmed that Greek
prosecutors had filed an application to the court recommending that the
charges be dropped. It is now up to the Crete court to either accept or
reject the recommendation.
The court could still decide that Mr Johnson should stand trial.
Fair Trials Abroad, which is campaigning for Mr Johnson, blamed poor policing for his predicament.
Chief executive Catherine Wolthuizen said: "A motive for Ryan murdering his parents has simply never existed.
"The lack of DNA evidence connecting Ryan with the crimes also proves his innocence.
"The
police in Greece needed to find someone to blame - and quickly in order
to allay local fears - the investigation was grossly incompetent.
Crucial evidence was lost or destroyed.
"The police failed to
submit a medical report in Ryan's favour and despite similar burglaries
and murders in the same area following his arrest, police did not
investigate any other leads."
Ms Wolthuizen said the court would make its decision in June or July.
She
added: "While this is great news for Ryan, we are not out of the woods
just yet. The court could decide he still has to face a trial, although
I believe this is very unlikely."
Before leaving the UK for
Greece to run a gift shop, Terry Johnson had been a publican and miner.
His wife had been a care home worker.
Ryan Johnson left the UK
to live with his parents in September 2005. Before he left Cornwall he
had worked as an administrator at The Works: Dance and Theatre, Truro.
Since his arrest Ryan Johnson, who cannot find a job, has been supported by family members in Cornwall.
His uncle, John Bailey, 49, an engineer from Penzance, said: "It's a relief - sheer relief.
"We always knew Ryan could not have killed his mum and dad in such a brutal, heartless, horrible way. It's just not in the boy.
"The Greek system grinds so painfully slowly. Even now it's not over."
If
and when Mr Johnson returns to the UK, police have said they will want
to question him over alleged sexual offences. He says he knows nothing
about any such allegations.
article copyright WESTERN MORNING NEWS