Fall man 'tried to kill himself'

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A man who fell from a hotel balcony in Crete with his two children in his arms, has attempted suicide in prison, his lawyer said.

John Hogan, 32, from Bradley Stoke, near Bristol, is charged with the murder of his son, attempted murder of his daughter and attempted suicide.

After appearing at a court in Neapoli he said he had no memory of the fall.

He said he was "mentally disorientated" because of his failing marriage and problems with his tiling business.

His son Liam, six, died on 15 August after falling 50ft from the hotel balcony while his daughter Mia survived but broke her arm.

He told Neapoli District Court in a written statement he had "exploded" when his wife threatened to leave him and take their two children with her.

Combined with stress from his tiling business, Mr Hogan said: "All of these things affected my conscience and mental functions, so when my wife indicated to me that she had decided to leave me I was overwhelmed by confusion.

"I was unable to bear the thought that I would live without my children."

Mr Hogan is in the psychiatric unit of Athens' Korydalous jail after initially being taken back to hospital.