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Balcony fall father denies murder Balcony fall father denies murder
(20 minutes later)
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.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 (15m) with him and his sister from the fourth floor of a hotel in 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.
Mia, who was two at the time, survived the fall but suffered a broken arm.Mia, who was two at the time, survived the fall but suffered a broken arm.
Mr Hogan told a court in Crete: "I do not accept the charge that I planned to kill my children."Mr Hogan told a court in Crete: "I do not accept the charge that I planned to kill my children."
His former wife Natasha, due to give evidence for the prosecution, said it would be hard facing her ex-husband. He appeared in court in the town of Chania on Monday charged with murder and attempted suicide.
Mr Hogan appeared in court in the town of Chania on Monday morning charged with murder and attempted suicide. Mia is much better now and has made a full recovery Natasha Hogan The hearing, involving a panel of three judges and a jury, is likely to last several days.
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. The prosecutor, Mrs Papanikolopoulou, began by describing the events of 15 August, 2006.
The prosecutor, Mrs Papanikolopoulou, described the events of 15 August 2006.
"He took the children and fell from the balcony 12m," she said."He 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."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.""He is charged with murder and attempted suicide."
Eyewitness Kevin Swift, 43, from Nottingham, is also due to give evidence. Mrs Hogan, for the prosecution, told the court how the couple "dearly loved their children" but their marriage was breaking down.
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." Couple arguing
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. According to the BBC's Chris Mason, who is in court, Mrs Hogan broke down as she described how the couple had been arguing and were packing their backs ready to go home early.
She told the court she had had her back to him and when she turned around Mr Hogan had gone.
In a statement read out by a police officer outside court, Mrs Hogan said the past few months had been "trying".
"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.""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. 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 happenedThe 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."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.""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. 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.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.