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'Rows plagued' death fall holiday | |
(about 2 hours later) | |
A woman whose husband fell from a hotel balcony in Crete with their two children has told a court how their holiday had been plagued by rows. | A woman whose husband fell from a hotel balcony in Crete with their two children has told a court how their holiday had been plagued by rows. |
John Hogan, from Bristol, is accused of murdering Liam, six, by leaping 50ft (15m) with him and his sister from the fourth floor of a hotel in 2006. | John Hogan, from Bristol, 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. He denies murder. | The 33-year-old's daughter Mia survived the fall. He denies murder. |
Mr Hogan's ex-wife Natasha told the court in Crete the couple's marriage had been breaking down. | Mr Hogan's ex-wife Natasha told the court in Crete the couple's marriage had been breaking down. |
She also spoke of Mr Hogan's tragic past, including the deaths of his brothers, Stephen and Paul, who both killed themselves. | |
'Increasingly angry' | 'Increasingly angry' |
He worked hard to care for his family, she said, but since the birth of their two children, he had become increasingly depressed and unhelpful. | He worked hard to care for his family, she said, but since the birth of their two children, he had become increasingly depressed and unhelpful. |
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. | 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?' | "When I moved away, he said, 'You are thinking, aren't you?' |
"I said, 'Yes I am'." | "I said, 'Yes I am'." |
I heard screams and saw something black falling Harilaos Karoulis | |
She added: "When we discussed our problems, he just said 'I am not talking about this now'." | 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. | 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. | She said the couple had been packing to go home early and she had her back to Mr Hogan. |
When she turned around he had gone. | When she turned around he had gone. |
The prosecutor, Mrs Papanikolopoulou, began on Monday by describing the events of 15 August, 2006. | The prosecutor, 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. | "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. | "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." |
Mrs Hogan has given evidence for the prosecution | |
The court also heard from a local man, Harilaos Karoulis, who claimed to have seen part of the fall. | |
Mr Karoulis, who lived next door to the hotel, said: "I heard screams and saw something black falling. It was just a shadow. | |
"It was very dark but I later heard screams. I ran into the hotel area to see the shadows on the floor. I saw it was a boy." | |
In a statement read out by a police officer outside court, Mrs Hogan said the past few months had been "trying". | 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. | "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." |
Mr Hogan's 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. |
The Hogans divorced last June. | The Hogans divorced last June. |
The case continues. | The case continues. |