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| Fall death boy unlawfully killed | Fall death boy unlawfully killed |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A six-year-old boy who died when he was pushed off a hotel balcony by his father in Greece was unlawfully killed, an inquest has ruled. | A six-year-old boy who died when he was pushed off a hotel balcony by his father in Greece was unlawfully killed, an inquest has ruled. |
| Liam Hogan suffered fatal head injuries after falling 50ft (15m) from the Petra Mare Hotel, in Crete, with his father, John, and sister, Mia, then aged two. | Liam Hogan suffered fatal head injuries after falling 50ft (15m) from the Petra Mare Hotel, in Crete, with his father, John, and sister, Mia, then aged two. |
| Mr Hogan, 33, was cleared of murder by a court in Greece. | Mr Hogan, 33, was cleared of murder by a court in Greece. |
| After the inquest in Bristol, the children's mother urged the British authorities to prosecute him. | After the inquest in Bristol, the children's mother urged the British authorities to prosecute him. |
| Natasha Visser said the hearing had given her "refreshing clarity" on what had happened. | Natasha Visser said the hearing had given her "refreshing clarity" on what had happened. |
| The image of those children looking like they were trying to reach out to each other will haunt me forever Natasha Visser, Liam's mother class="" href="/1/hi/uk/7316886.stm">Could father face UK court? | |
| "The verdict comes as no surprise and it is up to the Crown Prosecution Service to consider what, if any action, is to be taken," she said. | "The verdict comes as no surprise and it is up to the Crown Prosecution Service to consider what, if any action, is to be taken," she said. |
| "Justice has so far not been done. | "Justice has so far not been done. |
| "I cannot describe the pain I feel. The image of those children looking like they were trying to reach out to each other will haunt me forever." | "I cannot describe the pain I feel. The image of those children looking like they were trying to reach out to each other will haunt me forever." |
| A Crown Prosecution Service spokesman has said there was "no reason to believe" Mr Hogan would face any charges, but later added that it will now examine evidence compiled by Avon and Somerset Police. | |
| Liam died of head injuries and Mia broke several bones in the fall. | Liam died of head injuries and Mia broke several bones in the fall. |
| Avon Coroner Paul Forrest recorded a verdict of unlawful killing. | Avon Coroner Paul Forrest recorded a verdict of unlawful killing. |
| He said: "The evidence in this inquest, unchallenged, clearly and beyond reasonable doubt demonstrated that the act of pushing the children off the balcony was one which no reasonable and sober person would have perpetrated. | He said: "The evidence in this inquest, unchallenged, clearly and beyond reasonable doubt demonstrated that the act of pushing the children off the balcony was one which no reasonable and sober person would have perpetrated. |
| "The facts were abundantly clear in that the children were seen to be pushed off the balcony, objectively an unlawful act," he said. | "The facts were abundantly clear in that the children were seen to be pushed off the balcony, objectively an unlawful act," he said. |
| John Hogan was cleared of murder at a trial in Crete | John Hogan was cleared of murder at a trial in Crete |
| He added Mr Hogan, from Bradley Stoke, near Bristol, had been acquitted in court on the basis that he had not known what he was doing was wrong. | He added Mr Hogan, from Bradley Stoke, near Bristol, had been acquitted in court on the basis that he had not known what he was doing was wrong. |
| The Greek court's verdict was based on evidence from two psychiatrists, he said. | The Greek court's verdict was based on evidence from two psychiatrists, he said. |
| "Such findings gave rise to a good defence to murder or manslaughter on the basis of insanity," he said. | "Such findings gave rise to a good defence to murder or manslaughter on the basis of insanity," he said. |
| The coroner said UK law states that inquest findings should be consistent with the findings of trials held only in the UK and not abroad, so the findings of the Greek trial would not affect his verdict. | The coroner said UK law states that inquest findings should be consistent with the findings of trials held only in the UK and not abroad, so the findings of the Greek trial would not affect his verdict. |
| Mr Hogan's solicitor, Kerstin Scheel, said the coroner had not questioned the psychiatric evidence and had not taken her client's state of mind into account in reaching his verdict. | Mr Hogan's solicitor, Kerstin Scheel, said the coroner had not questioned the psychiatric evidence and had not taken her client's state of mind into account in reaching his verdict. |
| "Words cannot describe the love Liam's parents and family felt for him. They must all attempt to live their lives coming to terms with the pain they feel as a result of their loss," she added. | "Words cannot describe the love Liam's parents and family felt for him. They must all attempt to live their lives coming to terms with the pain they feel as a result of their loss," she added. |
| "Mr Hogan must also live his life coming to terms with the pain his actions has caused others and in particular Liam's mother." | "Mr Hogan must also live his life coming to terms with the pain his actions has caused others and in particular Liam's mother." |
| Released soon | Released soon |
| Mr Hogan was committed to a psychiatric unit for a minimum of three years after the trial. | Mr Hogan was committed to a psychiatric unit for a minimum of three years after the trial. |
| According to Greek doctors, he is making good progress. The BBC's Malcolm Brabant, in Greece, said he may be released soon. | According to Greek doctors, he is making good progress. The BBC's Malcolm Brabant, in Greece, said he may be released soon. |
| Mr Hogan's lawyer Dimitris Xiritakis is planning to go before the courts in late April to apply for Mr Hogan to be allowed to return to Britain. | Mr Hogan's lawyer Dimitris Xiritakis is planning to go before the courts in late April to apply for Mr Hogan to be allowed to return to Britain. |
| Mr Xiritakis told the BBC Mr Hogan had undergone therapy, was not dangerous and would not be required to be kept in a secure hospital if repatriated. | Mr Xiritakis told the BBC Mr Hogan had undergone therapy, was not dangerous and would not be required to be kept in a secure hospital if repatriated. |
| He added, however, that Mr Hogan had permanent problems and his family had a duty to keep him under medical and psychiatric supervision. | He added, however, that Mr Hogan had permanent problems and his family had a duty to keep him under medical and psychiatric supervision. |
| "The verdict of the (Greek) court was unanimous. This verdict has no reflection on Greek law," he said. |