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Balcony plunge dad 'loved family' Balcony leap dad was 'distressed'
(about 4 hours 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. A British man accused of murdering his son when he leapt from a hotel balcony while on holiday on Crete said he was in a state of distress at the time.
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, of Bradley Stoke, told the court he had not been having sex with his wife during the holiday and thought he would lose everything.
Mr Hogan's then two-year-old daughter Mia survived the fall which his ex-wife described as an act of "selfish love". His son Liam, six, died when he fell 50ft (15m) from the fourth-floor of the hotel room in 2006.
He has denied charges of murder and attempted suicide. His then two-year-old daughter, Mia, survived. Mr Hogan denies all charges.
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." Family love
Mr Hogan described how previously, when he thought the relationship was over, Mrs Hogan said she wanted to get back together.
"I went to a nightclub in Bristol, my ex-wife comes up to me, tells me she still loved me and wanted to get back. I was with another girl but I decided to go back with her," he told the court.
"I will say this one more time only... I have never loved one woman as much as I have loved my ex-wife. I have never loved any other woman.
"I still love her. She is the mother of my children and I will always love her no matter how much pain she inflicts on me, stopping me seeing her children.
"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."
Couple rowed
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
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. Recalling that night at the hotel, Mr Hogan said: "I have no memory of the arguments. The only memory I have is of the suitcases and Natasha.
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." No memory
"I do not remember shouting, maybe I did. The only people who would know is Liam, who is dead. I remember the suitcases on the bed. That is it.
"[My] Thoughts are delusional after that. I had a thought in my head that my ex-wife was in the ambulance with me. That is impossible. I do not know.
"I have no memory of the ambulance now, no memory of jumping and no memory of the hospital."
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.