IT has been a long, frustrating and at times traumatic fight for justice, but the family of Christopher Rochester can now be satisfied their quest has not been in vain.

With the help of the 24-year-old's friends in Chester-le-Street, Mr Rochester's mother and stepfather raised money to take the case to a Greek court.

They wanted to see the medical staff they blamed for neglecting - and, therefore, killing - their son held accountable.

But it was never as easy as simply raising the thousands of pounds they needed to pay for their legal costs.

For the family twice made trips to Rhodes prepared for the case to go ahead, only for it to be delayed at the last minute.

Mr Rochester's brother, Keith, 28, said after the second aborted trial in May: "It's a living torture.

"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, so we'll get through another four months."

Also, during the fight to have the Greek authorities take action against the hospital staff, the family learned a kidney had been removed from Mr Rochester's body.

After mounting pressure, a kidney was returned to the then Dryburn Hospital, in Durham, but it was discovered that it was not Mr Rochester's - prompting fears it may have been sold on the organ black market.

Another setback occurred when the family was preparing to fly out for the trial and were told at the 11th hour there would be no translator.

Christopher's stepfather, George Cummings, said: "If there's a spanner to throw in the works, they will do it at the last minute.

"But we have jumped over each hurdle every time it was put in front of us."

Those hurdles were cleared this week when the trial finally got under way.

With guilty verdicts against three of the five accused - each sentenced to three years in jail yesterday - Christopher's relatives can start rebuilding their shattered lives.

His mother, Pam, said: "It's what we wanted. We have got justice."