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Balcony fall father faces trial Balcony fall father denies murder
(about 7 hours later)
A British man whose son died when the pair fell from a hotel balcony on the island of Crete is set to go on trial accused of the boy's murder. A British man whose son died when the two of them fell from a hotel balcony on the island of Crete has pleaded not guilty to murder.
John Hogan, 33, of Bristol, is accused of killing Liam, six, by leaping 50ft from the fourth floor of a hotel on the Greek island in August 2006. John Hogan, 33, of Bristol, is accused of killing Liam, six, by leaping 50ft (15m) with him and his sister from the fourth floor of a hotel in 2006.
Liam died from massive head injuries. His sister Mia, who was two at the time, survived the fall. Mia, who was two at the time, survived the fall but suffered a broken arm.
His former wife Natasha is due to give evidence for the prosecution. Mr Hogan told a court in Crete: "I do not accept the charge that I planned to kill my children."
Mr Hogan was transferred to Crete from Korydallos prison in Athens at the weekend. His former wife Natasha, due to give evidence for the prosecution, said it would be hard facing her ex-husband.
He is due to appear in court in the town of Chania. Mr Hogan appeared in court in the town of Chania on Monday morning charged with murder and attempted suicide.
A British eyewitness, Kevin Swift, 43, from Nottingham, is also due to give evidence at the trial. The hearing, involving a panel of three judges and a jury, is likely to last several days. The jury has been warned of delays, however.
'Not fit' The prosecutor, Mrs Papanikolopoulou, described the events of 15 August 2006.
Mr Hogan, who ran a tiling business in Bristol, was charged with murder after surviving the fall with a broken arm. "He took the children and fell from the balcony 12m," she said.
He was also charged with attempted murder and has been held in custody for 16 months. "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."
Eyewitness Kevin Swift, 43, from Nottingham, is also due to give evidence.
In a statement read out by a police officer outside court, Mrs Hogan said the past few months had been "trying" and added: "I feel that I am able in that respect to speak for both sides of the family."
She 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 is in regular contact with John's side of the family and enjoys a loving and caring relationship."
In a television interview to be broadcast on ITV on Monday, Mrs Hogan, said of her ex-husband: "I have to face him and it's going to be very hard but I'm also anxious about it because I don't know if I'm going to erupt with anger.
The Petra Mare hotel, in Lerapetra, where the fall happened
"I'm worried about it a lot. I'm scared about what I'm going to see in front of me, you know he once was a composed man who I loved and spent time with.
"He was my best friend, father of my children. I know he's going to be a different man and that scares me the most about the trial, actually seeing him."
Mr Hogan, who ran a tiling business in Bristol, 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.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 psychiatric reports in November found he was fit to stand trial.But psychiatric reports in November found he was fit to stand trial.
He was divorced last June and his Bristol home has been sold.He was divorced last June and his Bristol home has been sold.