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21/01/2008
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)
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)
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29 August 2006
Funeral held for hotel death plunge boy
The funeral of a six-year-old boy who died in a fall from a hotel balcony with his father in Crete has been held in Bristol. Liam Hogan's funeral was held at Holy Trinity Church in Bradley Stoke, near to the Hogan family home.
Funeral held for hotel death plunge boy
The funeral of a six-year-old boy who died in a fall from a hotel balcony with his father in Crete has been held in Bristol. Liam Hogan's funeral was held at Holy Trinity Church in Bradley Stoke, near to the Hogan family home.
22 August 2006
Inquest into boy's hotel fall death opens
An UK inquest into the death of a six-year-old boy who died after falling 50 feet from a hotel balcony with his father and sister has been opened and adjourned.
Inquest into boy's hotel fall death opens
An UK inquest into the death of a six-year-old boy who died after falling 50 feet from a hotel balcony with his father and sister has been opened and adjourned.
27 March 2008
Hotel Balcony Plunge Boy 'Unlawfully Killed'
A six-year-old boy who died in a fall from a hotel balcony in Crete was unlawfully killed, an inquest has ruled. Liam Hogan, from Bristol, died from severe head injuries after falling from the balcony of the room at the Petra Mare Hotel in Ierapetra in August 2006, along with his father, John, and two-year-old sister Mia.
Hotel Balcony Plunge Boy 'Unlawfully Killed'
A six-year-old boy who died in a fall from a hotel balcony in Crete was unlawfully killed, an inquest has ruled. Liam Hogan, from Bristol, died from severe head injuries after falling from the balcony of the room at the Petra Mare Hotel in Ierapetra in August 2006, along with his father, John, and two-year-old sister Mia.
26 March 2008
Disagreement If Children 'Were Pushed' Over Hotel Balcony
An inquest into the death of six-year-old Liam Hogan at a hotel in Crete has heard how he was "pushed" from a balcony along with his sister - although other evidence conflicts with that version. Liam, from Bristol, died in a fall from the balcony of the room at the Petra Mare Hotel in Ierapetra in August 2006.
Disagreement If Children 'Were Pushed' Over Hotel Balcony
An inquest into the death of six-year-old Liam Hogan at a hotel in Crete has heard how he was "pushed" from a balcony along with his sister - although other evidence conflicts with that version. Liam, from Bristol, died in a fall from the balcony of the room at the Petra Mare Hotel in Ierapetra in August 2006.
07 May 2009
Hogan Inquest Ruling Quashed
The High Court has ruled that there should be no fresh inquest into the death of a boy whose father pushed him from a Crete hotel balcony. An inquest verdict of unlawful killing in the case of John Hogan - who jumped with two-year-old daughter Mia and Liam, six - was today quashed.
Hogan Inquest Ruling Quashed
The High Court has ruled that there should be no fresh inquest into the death of a boy whose father pushed him from a Crete hotel balcony. An inquest verdict of unlawful killing in the case of John Hogan - who jumped with two-year-old daughter Mia and Liam, six - was today quashed.
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