Tragic Balcony Fall Recalled In Cretan Court

The Bristol man accused of killing his own son in a tragic fall from a hotel balcony in Crete has denied the charge.

John Hogan is accused of murdering Liam, six, by leaping 50ft (15m) with him and his sister from the fourth floor of a hotel in 2006. The 33-year-old's daughter Mia survived the fall.

Mr Hogan's ex-wife Natasha told the court in Crete the couple's marriage had been breaking down.

She said their holiday had been plagued by rows and that while her husband worked hard to care for his family, since the birth of their two children, he had become increasingly depressed and unhelpful.

Mrs Hogan also spoke of Mr Hogan's tragic past, including the deaths of his brothers, Stephen and Paul, who both killed themselves.

Mrs Hogan said her ex-husband had confronted her about his fear that she was thinking of leaving him after he had tried to kiss her and she had moved away.

"When I moved away, he said, 'You are thinking, aren't you?'

"I said, 'Yes I am'."

She added: "When we discussed our problems, he just said 'I am not talking about this now'."

Mrs Hogan said that on the day of the incident her husband had become increasingly angry and agitated.

She said the couple had been packing to go home early and she had her back to Mr Hogan, but when she turned around he had gone.

The prosecutor in Crete, Mrs Papanikolopoulou, began on Monday by describing the events of 15 August, 2006.

"He [Mr Hogan] took the children and fell from the balcony 12m," she said.

"This led to the death of his son and light injuries to his daughter. He also sustained injuries. He is charged with murder and attempted suicide," she said.

In a statement read out by a police officer outside court, Mrs Hogan said the past few months had been "trying" and having explained that they were divorced last June said: "I am able to say that Mia is much better now and has made a full recovery from the injuries sustained that day," she said.

"She is in regular contact with John's side of the family and enjoys a loving and caring relationship."

Mr Hogan has been held in custody for 16 months. His lawyers had argued he was not mentally fit to stand trial after a series of suicide attempts and should be held in a psychiatric unit. But reports in November found he was fit to stand trial.

(BMcC)