THE family and friends of a Tadley teenager, fatally stabbed on a Greek island, have been given a date for a retrial of the man who killed him.

Greek taxi driver Stelios Morfis was found guilty of the unintentional manslaughter of 18-year-old Robert Sebbage, following a two-week trial in 2012, but was cleared of murder.

Robert, a former Hurst Community College pupil, was killed on the Greek island of Zante on July 13, 2011 while on holiday with friends, four of whom were injured when Morfis also stabbed them with a knife.

Robert’s family and friends went through the agony of listening to evidence in court, and thought the ordeal was over when Morfis was found guilty. But they now face going through it all again after a retrial on the murder charge was ordered by a Greek prosecutor.

A date has now been set for June 11, 2014 in a Greek Court of Appeal. It is likely that all of the witnesses called in the original court case will once again be asked to give evidence.

Last year, Morfis was jailed for six years – a sentence Robert’s family believe is far too lenient.

Robert’s mother 48-year-old Rhian, of Weyhill Close, Tadley, said they had endured a range of emotions since hearing that the date for a retrial has been fixed.

She said: “It’s hard to know how to feel.

“Obviously, we were hoping for a longer sentence but what is justice? Whether he (Morfis) got 35 years or five years, it wouldn’t make us feel any better. It’s a real battle between the head and the heart.

“We’re thinking of Rob’s friends who had to go through giving evidence. They’re trying to move on with their lives and doing it all again will make it harder for them.

“When this happened they were boys, and now they are men.

“We’re now working towards the date of June 11 but we have no idea if it will be moved.

“The good thing about it is that at least we have time to fundraise.”

The Out of the Blue Appeal Fund was set up to raise money to pay for legal fees and costs for the first trial, and is now fundraising to help the family pay for the retrial.

Rhian, who has two other sons, said she has no idea how much it will cost, adding: “How long is a piece of string? We have no idea how long the trial will last and how much work will be involved for the lawyers and solicitors.”

To make a donation, visit outoftheblue-rjs.co.uk.