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| Hotel leap man cleared of murder | Hotel leap man cleared of murder |
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| A British man who leapt 50ft (15m) from a hotel balcony with his two children in Crete has been cleared of murder and manslaughter. | A British man who leapt 50ft (15m) from a hotel balcony with his two children in Crete has been cleared of murder and manslaughter. |
| John Hogan, 33, from Bradley Stoke, South Gloucestershire, was "incapable" of murdering his son because of his mental state, a Greek court has ruled. | John Hogan, 33, from Bradley Stoke, South Gloucestershire, was "incapable" of murdering his son because of his mental state, a Greek court has ruled. |
| He will now be placed in a psychiatric unit for a minimum of three years. | He will now be placed in a psychiatric unit for a minimum of three years. |
| Mr Hogan's six-year-old son Liam died from massive head injuries. His then two-year-old daughter Mia survived. | Mr Hogan's six-year-old son Liam died from massive head injuries. His then two-year-old daughter Mia survived. |
| President Paraskeri Kiraleou, the senior judge at the trial, said: "His responsibility was diminished. | President Paraskeri Kiraleou, the senior judge at the trial, said: "His responsibility was diminished. |
| "He was incapable of murdering his son and he needs to be in a psychiatric unit for therapy." | "He was incapable of murdering his son and he needs to be in a psychiatric unit for therapy." |
| Mr Hogan, who was crying as the verdict was delivered, said nothing as he was led from court by two police officers. | |
| Natasha Hogan, his former wife, sobbed into her hands on hearing the verdict. | |
| In a statement following the verdict, Mrs Hogan said: "This result albeit somewhat unexpected, has left me feeling that Liam lost his young life for nothing. | |
| "I accept that an act in a moment of complete madness was uncharacteristic of John. But to have done this to our children is unforgivable. | |
| "I know that we all miss Liam, but it is Mia and I who are left to rebuild our lives without a loving caring son and brother." | |
| The statement also said that the family has found it difficult to hear the circumstances of Liam's death again. | |
| It added: "John is no longer my husband and plans are afoot to rebuild our lives away from the media support. | |
| "You have all heard our lives laid bare during the court process. I ask now that you allow us time to reflect, to rebuild our lives with dignity showing due reverence to my son Liam." |