This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/bristol/7204167.stm
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Balcony plunge dad 'loved family' | Balcony plunge dad 'loved family' |
| (9 minutes later) | |
| A British man accused of leaping from a hotel balcony in Crete with his two children has told a court his family meant the world to him. | |
| John Hogan, 33, from Bradley Stoke, is accused of murdering his son Liam, six, by jumping 50ft (15m) from the fourth-floor window of his hotel room. | John Hogan, 33, from Bradley Stoke, is accused of murdering his son Liam, six, by jumping 50ft (15m) from the fourth-floor window of his hotel room. |
| Mr Hogan's then two-year-old daughter Mia survived the fall which his ex-wife described as an act of "selfish love". | Mr Hogan's then two-year-old daughter Mia survived the fall which his ex-wife described as an act of "selfish love". |
| He has denied charges of murder and attempted suicide. | He has denied charges of murder and attempted suicide. |
| Mr Hogan told the court: "I loved my mother, I loved my two sisters but I loved my wife and children more than anything. They meant the world to me." | Mr Hogan told the court: "I loved my mother, I loved my two sisters but I loved my wife and children more than anything. They meant the world to me." |
| On Monday his ex-wife Natasha, 35, who was in the hotel at the time of the fatal fall in 2006, gave evidence. | On Monday his ex-wife Natasha, 35, who was in the hotel at the time of the fatal fall in 2006, gave evidence. |
| Mrs Hogan broke down in tears as she described the night when Hogan gave her "a crazed look" before jumping from the balcony of the 227-bed four-star Petra Mare hotel, which overlooks the beach of Ierapetra. | Mrs Hogan broke down in tears as she described the night when Hogan gave her "a crazed look" before jumping from the balcony of the 227-bed four-star Petra Mare hotel, which overlooks the beach of Ierapetra. |
| "Earthquake" of psychosis | "Earthquake" of psychosis |
| She said she booked the holiday in the hope of patching up their marriage but instead it had been plagued by rows. | She said she booked the holiday in the hope of patching up their marriage but instead it had been plagued by rows. |
| Before Mr Hogan plunged from the balcony the couple had been rowing as she packed his suitcases, she said. | Before Mr Hogan plunged from the balcony the couple had been rowing as she packed his suitcases, she said. |
| Hogan's psychiatrist claimed his actions were caused by an "earthquake" of psychosis. | Hogan's psychiatrist claimed his actions were caused by an "earthquake" of psychosis. |
| Joannis Nestoros, a psychiatrist from the University of Crete, said: "He was away from reality. He did not know what he was doing. He thought he would be able to take his children to heaven." | Joannis Nestoros, a psychiatrist from the University of Crete, said: "He was away from reality. He did not know what he was doing. He thought he would be able to take his children to heaven." |
| The jury of three men and a woman selected to sit alongside the three judges are expected to retire to consider their verdicts after a closing speech from the defence and prosecution later. | The jury of three men and a woman selected to sit alongside the three judges are expected to retire to consider their verdicts after a closing speech from the defence and prosecution later. |