ENFIELD man Andrew Symeou says he will return home soon to rebuild his life after being acquitted of manslaughter in Greece.

The 22-year-old's life has been on hold since 2007 when he was accused of killing 18-year-old Jonny Hiles by punching him from a podium in Zante.

But today, a Greek jury delivered a not guilty verdict and he walked away from court a free man.

In a statement afterwards, he said: “There are no winners or losers, only pursuit of the truth.

“Today's verdict has only stopped further injustice and a possible gross miscarriage of justice.

“I was not involved in any way in the death of Jonathan Hiles and the court agrees. I can finally return home and begin building my life again.”

The verdict comes after years of fierce campaigning on Mr Symeou's behalf, from politicians, friends, lobby groups, and not least his parents.

They were by his side when he was released from the court, and is finally free to return to the UK two years after he was extradited to face trial.

Jago Russell, chief executive of Fair Trials International which has helped promote Mr Symeou's plight, said: “Andrew Symeou is an innocent man, who was condemned by failures in Europe’s justice systems to a four year nightmare.”

He condemned the European court system which, using the European Arrest Warrant, led to Mr Symeou being extradited before any evidence was heard and held for ten months in a notorious jail in Greece.