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'Crazed look' before balcony fall | 'Crazed look' before balcony fall |
(20 minutes later) | |
The ex-wife of a man who fell from a fourth floor hotel balcony with their two children has spoken of the "crazed look" he gave her moments before. | The ex-wife of a man who fell from a fourth floor hotel balcony with their two children has spoken of the "crazed look" he gave her moments before. |
John Hogan, 33, is accused of murdering Liam, six, by leaping 50ft (15m) from the window in Crete in 2006, while holding him and his sister. | John Hogan, 33, is accused of murdering Liam, six, by leaping 50ft (15m) from the window in Crete in 2006, while holding him and his sister. |
Mr Hogan's then two-year-old daughter Mia survived the fall. | Mr Hogan's then two-year-old daughter Mia survived the fall. |
Mr Hogan denies the two charges of murder and attempted suicide. The trial was adjourned until Wednesday. | |
Denying the murder charge, he told the court in the port town of Chania: "I do not accept the charge that I planned to kill my children." | Denying the murder charge, he told the court in the port town of Chania: "I do not accept the charge that I planned to kill my children." |
He stared at me with a crazed look and started shouting Natasha Hogan | He stared at me with a crazed look and started shouting Natasha Hogan |
Earlier the court heard ex-wife Natasha speak of how the couple's marriage had been breaking down. | Earlier the court heard ex-wife Natasha speak of how the couple's marriage had been breaking down. |
Mrs Hogan said her ex-husband worked hard to care for his family but since the birth of their two children, he had become depressed and unhelpful. | Mrs Hogan said her ex-husband worked hard to care for his family but since the birth of their two children, he had become depressed and unhelpful. |
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: "I asked him to calm down because the kids were there. I bathed the children and then took them down to dinner." | She said: "I asked him to calm down because the kids were there. I bathed the children and then took them down to dinner." |
Mrs Hogan has given evidence for the prosecution | Mrs Hogan has given evidence for the prosecution |
She described how Hogan kept coming down to the restaurant in an increasingly "angry" mood. | She described how Hogan kept coming down to the restaurant in an increasingly "angry" mood. |
She told the court that she decided to take the children home early and returned to the hotel room to pack the suitcases. | She told the court that she decided to take the children home early and returned to the hotel room to pack the suitcases. |
She said: "He stared at me with a crazed look and started shouting." | She said: "He stared at me with a crazed look and started shouting." |
She turned her back on him and continued packing but when she turned back around Mr Hogan and the children were gone. | She turned her back on him and continued packing but when she turned back around Mr Hogan and the children were gone. |
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. | 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. |
Psychiatric reports in November 2007 found Mr Hogan was fit to stand trial. | |
Professor Iannis Nesteros, a consultant psychiatrist from the University Of Crete, who has been treating John Hogan, gave evidence in court. | |
Speaking afterwards, he told the BBC: "In my opinion, at the time, he was not himself. He was suffering from an acute psychotic episode, in other words he was doing things which were out of his character. | |
"In my knowledge, John is a very kind person. He is not the type of person who would do something like that. | |
"He had always a lot remorse and guilt about what happened. That evening he was psychotic, in other words he was out of touch with reality." | |
In a statement issued after the adjournment on Monday Mrs Hogan said: "It is somewhat of a shock that the court has been unable to get to a point where they can reach a verdict in this case. | |
"I suspect that both sides of the family and John himself will find it very difficult over the next couple of days." | |
The case is due to resume on Wednesday. |