A Greek appeals court has reduced from life to 21 years and five months' imprisonment the sentences imposed on two men convicted of the fatal racist stabbing of a Pakistani migrant in 2013.

Monday's Athens court ruling took into account the two Greek men's good conduct after the stabbing.

Appeals court judges upheld the lower court's decision that there was a racist motive in the murder of Shehzad Luqman, 27, who was attacked as he cycled to work before dawn in Athens.

The defendants were riding a motorbike and claimed the killing followed an argument over who had the right of way.