A FAMILY'S agonising wait for justice over the death of a young Chester-le-Street man in a Greek hospital has been prolonged.

Relatives of Christopher Rochester, 24, were in Rhodes, this week hoping to see five Greek medics stand trial accused of killing him.

The family had travelled to the island last September for what was supposed to be the start of the trial, but it was adjourned for eight months because one of the three accused doctors, Sergios Paulidis, had not been properly summoned. He was working on secondment in a Moscow hospital. One of the two nurses was also absent. Five people face charges of manslaughter by neglect.

Mr Rochester's family were hopeful the case would start on Wednesday, but their hopes were dashed when one of the nurses failed to attend Rhodes Town Court. The next available date for the three judges is September 24.

Speaking from outside the court, Christopher's brother Keith, 28, said: "It's a living torture, there's not a day goes by that this is not talked about.

"You build yourself up for what is supposed to be the final chapter and you get knocked back again for another four months.

"It's soul destroying but we will be back in September.

"We have fought for three years to get justice for Christopher we'll get through another four months."

Mr Rochester, a bar manager, bled to death unattended in a Greek hospital in June 2000. He fell 40ft from a balcony on the holiday resort of Faliraki, where he was visiting his brother Keith.

Mr Rochester's family and North Durham MP Kevan Jones have campaigned to have the three doctors and two nurses taken to court in connection with his death.

The family claim that it took 40 minutes for an ambulance to get Mr Rochester to hospital where he was 'bounced about' on a stretcher and left on a hospital trolley, despite being in severe pain.

Friend David Vest fed him water from his cupped hands while Mr Rochester bled to death from a fractured pelvis.

A verdict of accidental death contributed to by neglect was recorded by North Durham coroner Andrew Tweddle at the end of an inquest into his death.