A HAMPSHIRE teen stabbed to death while on holiday was 'unlawfully killed', an inquest has ruled.

Robert Sebbage, 18, from Tadley, near Basingstoke, was killed on the island of Zante on July 13.

Mr Sebbage was on holiday with eight friends when he was killed during their last night out when the group got into an argument with two taxi drivers.

Four others were also stabbed during the incident.

Mr Sebbage's parents, Andy and Rhian, flew out to Greece and returned with their son's body.

The funeral took place on August 4 at St Mary's Church in Basingstoke with two of his brothers among those carrying his coffin into the service.

The Reading fan battled with a rare bowel condition and walked out as an England mascot at Wembley with David Beckham in June 2007.

Taxi driver Stelios Morfis, 21, has been charged with the murder of Mr Sebbage. Another man, Dimosthenes Mylonas, 25, has been charged as an accomplice.

Recording a verdict of unlawful killing, North Hampshire Coroner Andrew Bradley praised the group of friends for their bravery.

He said that Mr Sebbage died from a single stab wound to the heart.

He said: ''On the night in question, there is a melee in the street. I have no doubt the lads did their bit in causing that, that seems to be common ground.

''They had all had a good time and it all started going wrong.

''The taxi driver arms himself with a baseball bat, goes back to the vehicle and switches that for a flick-knife with which he runs amok and does a monumental amount of damage, principally to Robert, and that's the event that kills Robert.

''Robert is not aware of what happens, he collapses very quickly and I suspect he died in the street.''

Criticising the local emergency services, he added: ''It's right to note the response of the authorities and the inability of them to take it seriously is significant.

''Having said that, the nature of Robert's injuries were such that he was not going to recover.''

Passing on his condolences to Mr Sebbage's family and friends, he said: ''I do not know how you get over it, time passes on and things fade but it will always be with you.

''I hope you get it in some proportion, but for your efforts for Robert, thank you.''

Mr Sebbage's parents, Andy and Rhian, sobbed during the inquest in Basingstoke.

A statement released on behalf of the parents and Robert's brothers, Martin and Steven, said: ''There are no words that can express or explain how devastated we are at the loss of our son, brother and friend.

''Robert was loved and admired by so many people, for his wit, his courage and determination to lead a normal life, despite the long-term illness that he lived with for 18 years.

''His stoic attitude and stubbornness got him through some real tough times.

''His determination ensured that he lived life to the full and achieved so much in his short life.

''He and his friends were so excited to be going on their first holiday alone and enjoyed planning all of the things that they were going to do on holiday.

''From the chat we had with Robert on the telephone on the afternoon that our lives changed forever, we know that the holiday had been going well.

''None of us can change what happened to Robert and his friends on that awful night in Zante. However we have to hang on to all the good times we shared together.''

The funeral took place on August 4 at St Mary's Church in Basingstoke with his two brothers among those carrying his coffin into the service.

The Reading fan battled with a rare bowel condition and walked out as an England mascot at Wembley with David Beckham in June 2007.

Taxi driver Stelios Morfis, 21, has been charged with the murder of Mr Sebbage. Another man, Dimosthenes Mylonas, 25, has been charged as an accomplice.