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Hotel death father will be freed | Hotel death father will be freed |
(about 2 hours later) | |
A father who killed his six-year-old son by jumping with him from a hotel balcony in Crete is to be released from a psychiatric unit. | A father who killed his six-year-old son by jumping with him from a hotel balcony in Crete is to be released from a psychiatric unit. |
John Hogan, 34, of Bradley Stoke, near Bristol, was cleared of murdering Liam Hogan and in May the High Court quashed an inquest verdict of unlawful killing. | John Hogan, 34, of Bradley Stoke, near Bristol, was cleared of murdering Liam Hogan and in May the High Court quashed an inquest verdict of unlawful killing. |
Liam's sister Mia received broken bones in the fall in August 2006. | Liam's sister Mia received broken bones in the fall in August 2006. |
A court in Athens ruled John Hogan was fit enough to fly to Britain and can leave as early as next week. | |
Mr Hogan's solicitor Kerstin Scheel told BBC News on Friday: "In theory he could return as soon as today." | |
Liam's family reacted angrily to the prospect of Mr Hogan's return to the UK. | |
He will be free to travel the world, if he chooses, in search of the daughter he tried to kill Brian Chandler | He will be free to travel the world, if he chooses, in search of the daughter he tried to kill Brian Chandler |
Brian Chandler, the stepfather of Liam's mother Natasha Visser, said: "The prospect of John Hogan returning after just 16 months of a recommended minimum - by a very lenient Greek Court - of three years detention in a psychiatric unit is simply horrendous. | Brian Chandler, the stepfather of Liam's mother Natasha Visser, said: "The prospect of John Hogan returning after just 16 months of a recommended minimum - by a very lenient Greek Court - of three years detention in a psychiatric unit is simply horrendous. |
"He will, if current press is correct, return, having pushed two children off a fourth floor balcony, as a completely free man. | "He will, if current press is correct, return, having pushed two children off a fourth floor balcony, as a completely free man. |
"As he has no conviction of any kind against him, he will therefore be free to travel the world, if he chooses, in search of Mia, the daughter he tried to kill." | "As he has no conviction of any kind against him, he will therefore be free to travel the world, if he chooses, in search of Mia, the daughter he tried to kill." |
After the original trial Mrs Visser, who has remarried and now lives in Australia, said she had "lost her son for nothing". | |
Liam Hogan died and his sister was badly injured in the fall | Liam Hogan died and his sister was badly injured in the fall |
According to reports, Mr Hogan jumped with joy and embraced his mother and sister when he heard that he would be released. | |
Both women have been campaigning to Greek authorities to let him seek treatment in the UK. | |
The judge at his trial in January 2008 said his responsibility was diminished. | |
His psychiatrist said his actions were caused by an "earthquake" of psychosis. | His psychiatrist said his actions were caused by an "earthquake" of psychosis. |
A Foreign Office spokesman confirmed a request for the release of John Hogan had been agreed by the Greek court and that the court order was then agreed by the prosecution. | A Foreign Office spokesman confirmed a request for the release of John Hogan had been agreed by the Greek court and that the court order was then agreed by the prosecution. |
The Crown Prosecution Service maintained that no action would be taken against Mr Hogan in Britain "if and when he returns". | |
Mr Hogan has been trying for a year to get back to Britain but two previous appeals to magistrates in Athens were rejected. | |
However, the court ruled he had made sufficient psychiatric progress over the past six months and would be allowed to return home. | However, the court ruled he had made sufficient psychiatric progress over the past six months and would be allowed to return home. |