A Catford man cleared of murder on the party resort of Malia before being retried in his absence and convicted is fighting extradition back to Greece.

Part-time model Myles Litchmore-Dunbar spent 16 months in an Athens prison before he was acquitted of stabbing a teenager while partying on the Greek island of Crete in the summer of 2013.

The now 24-year-old returned home with a three-year suspended sentence for affray after being acquitted of murder.

Dunbar, a student at the time, claimed he was trying to stop a brawl outside a nightclub when 19-year-old Tyrell Matthews-Burton was stabbed.

According to Greek police, Mr Matthews-Burton died in a clash of up to 30 rowdy Britons - but Dunbar's DNA was not found on any of the the three knives found at the scene.

But four years after Dunbar walked free, Greek prosecutors found him guilty of murder when he failed to turn up for two retrials.

He is now ordered to return to the Mediterranean to serve his murder sentence.

MORE: Catford man faces extradition to Greece over birthday brawl death despite being cleared of murder

But Dunbar may have missed the retrials called on by the Greek public prosecution, because he simply wasn't aware they were happening, Westminster Magistrates' Court heard.

The same day as his sentencing in October 2014, he lodged an appeal against his conviction of affray, the court was told.

But a couple of days later, Greek prosecutors also called for an appeal - against his acquittal for murder.

Speaking in court Dunbar said: "I signed a document in Greek, I didn't know much about it.

"All I know is that it was about the possibility of an appeal against affray, it wasn't confirmed.

"If it was confirmed I would have turned up."

Defending, Ben Keith added Dunbar didn't know of either retrial until he was arrested by British police officers last July - four months after he was supposed to appear at the Greek court.

But his argument was challenged by prosecutor, Richard Evans who said Dunbar failed to include any mention of signing the appeal document in his written evidence.

He told the court Dunbar previously stated he spoke about the appeal to his British lawyer, Hilary Brown.

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Myles Litchmore-Dunbar pictured during his arrest

Giving expert evidence, Athens-based lawyer, Georgios Pyromallis said there is nothing to suggest Dunbar had even spoken to the Greek lawyer who was appointed to handle documents for his own appeal - which was dismissed in 2017.

Speaking to the court, Dunbar said he didn't even know of this Greek lawyer until just before Christmas last year.

Questions were raised by the defence, Mr Keith, over why Dunbar's court notices were sent to the mysterious "local lawyer" and not the defendant.

Mr Pyromallis said it is normal for someone not to be formally notified of a prosecutor's appeal against them until they receive an official summons - whether you are Greek or not.

But he added there is no evidence to suggest Greek prosecutors tried to liaise with the UK authorities to let Dunbar know about either court date.

The court heard that while Dunbar's appeal was dismissed when he failed to appear in court in June 2017, the prosecution's appeal against the acquittal for murder was adjourned the following spring.

The adjournment was at the request of Mr Matthews-Burton's family. The teenager was a clothes shop worker from Leyton.

But Dunbar didn't turn up to the adjourned retrial in March 2018 either, stating he had "no idea" about it.

MORE: Catford student cleared of Malia murder after more than a year in Greek prison

The court heard that if Dunbar lodged an appeal now - this time against his renewed murder conviction, he would have to convince the Greek Supreme Court he had no knowledge of the retrials.

It could take up to two years to get a result and according to legal expert Mr Pyronallis there would be "no way" that time wouldn't be behind bars.

Dunbar will remain on bail until he will next appear in court in late March.