Spanish murder suspect Stephen Johnson returns home

Oct 1 2009 by Rob Pattinson, The Journal

A BUSINESS owner accused of murder on a Spanish holiday island has spoken for the first time about being allowed home.

Coach company boss Stephen Johnson has been "trapped in paradise" since police in Tenerife accused him of fatally stabbing a 25-year-old Moroccan in January 2008.

Authorities confiscated the 54-year-old’s passport forcing him to live apart from his family, and missing the birth of his first grandchild.

Now Spanish courts have said the Durham-born father-of-three can return home for a fortnight this month to get his business affairs in order. Last night Mr Johnson told The Journal about the torment of living in a "gold cage" and his excitement at the prospect of walking through his own front door, in Hetton-le-Hole, Sunderland, for the first time in almost two years.

"It’s going to be so emotional touching down in the UK," he said.

"I just can’t wait to walk through my own front door, and sit on my own sofa and be with my family. My mum is 78, I haven’t seen her in 18 months.

"I know everybody says it must be great walking around Tenerife in the sun, but it’s terrible. I spend long lonely nights here. I’ve barely slept.