"It's fabulous to be back home."
19/10/09 14:10 Category: General
Stephen Johnson with his wife Joan.
17 October 2009
By By MARISSA CARRUTHERS
The words of Stephen Johnson in the arms of his devoted family as he returned to Wearside for the first time since being charged with murder on a Spanish holiday island 20 months ago – a crime he strongly denies.
"I never thought this day would happen," added the 54-year-old dad-of-three, who owns Stepys Coaches – which used to sponsor the Durham and District Sunday Football League.
Mr Johnson was allowed home for a fortnight by the Spanish authorities, having previously been unable to leave Tenerife since he was arrested for allegedly fatally stabbing a 25-year-old Moroccan, in the resort of Playa de las Americas.
"My stomach has been churning for the last three days with worry about whether it would happen," he told the Echo.
Mr Johnson's first stop before returning to the family home of 27 years at Elvet Green, Hetton, was to visit his mum Nora, 77, in Haswell Plough, who has not seen him since January last year.
"She saw him and just broke into tears and cried her heart out," said Mr Johnson's wife Joan, 53.
As well as catching up with their children Michelle, 27, Lorraine, 26, and Gary, 24, Mr Johnson is hoping to see his one-year-old granddaughter – who he has only seen once since his arrest.
He intends to spend his fortnight enjoying a quiet time at home, adding: "I'm just going be with my family and sort things out with the business.
"I would like to go and watch Sunderland, but I'll probably go and watch the local teams, like Hetton Lyons."
The incident which turned a holiday into a nightmare is believed to have happened when Mr Johnson acted as a good Samaritan to stop a fight, during which he suffered a head wound.
It is thought he could be held on bail in Tenerife for up to four years, but recent legal moves suggest a jury trial could take place in Santa Cruz next year.
The trauma has had a devastating effect on Mr Johnson and his loved ones, who have been wracked with worry about him.
"When this all first happened I was suicidal," he said. "I couldn't eat, I couldn't sleep. Everything was just a daze. I couldn't believe what was happening.
"My life has been on hold until this goes to court. The emotional and physical stress and strain has been unbelievable."
He said he would have not been able to cope with the ordeal without help from friends who have stuck by him in Tenerife and Wearside, including entrepreneur Matty Roseberry.
A webpage called Bring Back Stepy has been set up on the Internet site Facebook, which urges people to contact North East MEP Stephen Hughes to lobby the Foreign Office for help.
A man from Liverpool was also arrested by Spanish Police in connection with the killing, and remanded in prison.