THE family of a man who could face the death penalty in the US told last night of their belief in his innocence.

Neil Revill, 34, from Consett, County Durham, will stand trial in August for the double murder of drug dealer Arthur Davodian, 22, and Kimberley Crayton, 21, in Los Angeles in 2001.

Last night, his father, Graham Revill, speaking from his home in Perth, Australia, said he believed in the death penalty but was certain his son was innocent.

He said: "He is innocent. I have every confidence that he will be found not guilty.

"We have been waiting for a trial for five years and we will go over there and sit behind him and support him all the way.

"I would say I was a supporter of the death penalty - if someone is found guilty and there is no doubt about it - like for people who walk onto tube trains with bombs."

The last time Mr Revill and his wife, Brenda, saw their son was at Christmas, when they were allowed half an hour's visit behind armoured glass.

Mr Revill, a former RAF mechanic, said: "The last time we had actual physical contact with him was at his wedding in 1997.

"It's harder for his mum because I am an old-fashioned North of England person, but the first thing I will do when he walks out of the court is give him a bit of a squeeze."

Mr Davodian and his girlfriend, Miss Crayton, were murdered in their apartment in 2001. Mr Davodian was stabbed 17 times before being decapitated.

His head was discovered in a bag by a schoolboy ten days later.

Miss Crayton was killed as she cowered in her bedroom. Her 14-month-old daughter survived.

Yesterday, another relative, Flora Marley, 71, of Leadgate, near Consett, said: "It is a puzzle to us why it has taken so long for him to come to trial. I just hope that it is fair. We hope and pray they will find him to be the innocent person that he is.

"Everyone is fully behind him. They just cannot believe that he has done something like this.

"I have no doubt that he is innocent. We are all praying for him, all the time."

Neil Revill was born in the North-East but as a child he moved to Germany, where his father was stationed with the RAF.

Later, he moved back to County Durham and lived with his grandfather in Stanley, before moving to Sunderland.

From there, he went backpacking around Europe, met his future wife and moved to the US, where his marriage broke up.

He was a friend of murder victim Mr Davodian.

Yesterday, Mr Revill said that he and his wife had put their lives on hold.

"We had plans, but we can't do anything until we know what is happening with Neil.

"But we can't sit here every day and cry into our cups of tea.

"I feel helpless.

"As a father, I feel that I should be able to get him out, but it's I can do as much for him from our home in Australia as I could sitting outside the jail."

The prison allows inmates a onehour visit a week, or two half-hour visits.

Mr and Mrs Revill visited their son at Christmas because they were permitted an additional half-hour on Christmas Day, and also on New Year's Day.

Neil Revill has no other visitors and spends most of his time reading. His father sends him books via the internet and money so that he is able to buy luxuries, such as toiletries. Human rights charity Reprieve is campaigning to stop the death penalty becoming a possible punishment in the case before the trial begins.

Officials from the charity have asked Prime Minister Tony Blair to intervene.

Clive Stafford Smith, legal director of Reprieve, said: "That Neil has spent the last six years with the Damoclean sword of the death penalty hanging over him is outrageous.

"This should never have been a death penalty case. It is critical that Mr Blair supports the request to the Los Angeles District Attorney's Office to drop the death penalty.

"I have watched several Brits linger on Death Row in the US and seen two of them executed.

"Mr Blair should act now to ensure that Neil doesn't share their fate."

Kevan Jones, the MP for North Durham, said: "It is cruel and inhumane to keep someone waiting for trial for six years. I think it is wrong."

Mr Revill said that he understood the delay, which is common in the US justice system.

He said: "I'm not really complaining about that sort of thing.

"My advice would be don't go to America and get yourself in trouble."