CPS to probe balcony plunge case
- 00:02:01
- ITN
CPS to probe balcony plunge case
The mother of Liam Hogan, who was pushed by his father from a balcony in Crete, wants further legal action against her ex-husband after an inquest ruled her son was unlawfully killed.Natasha Visser urged the Crown Presecution Service to consider charging her ex-husband John as "justice has so far not been done" and she accused Greek authorities of trying to "relieve" themselves of their responsibilities.It comes after two holidaymakers revealed for the first time at the inquest they saw him push the children before jumping off himself. It was previously thought he jumped with the children in his arms. The CPS has confirmed they are "looking into the case".Six-year-old Liam, from Bristol, died of severe head injuries after falling from the hotel balcony with his father and sister Mia, then aged two. Mr Hogan and Mia survived the tragedy on August 15, 2006.Mr Hogan, 33, has been receiving treatment at a psychiatric hospital near Athens since a court cleared him of murder, ruling he was suffering an "earthquake" of psychosis when he took Liam's life.Avon Coroner Paul Forrest said: "The facts were abundantly clear in that the children were seen to be pushed off the balcony, objectively an unlawful act."But he added the Greek court's verdict was based on evidence from two psychiatrists and said: "Such findings gave rise to a good defence to murder or manslaughter on the basis of insanity."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 did not affect his verdict.Mrs Visser said the verdict "comes as no surprise, and in the light of this new body of evidence we understand that it will now be up the English Crown Prosecution Service to consider very carefully what, if any, action they will take for the prosecution of John Hogan for murder and attempted murder in the UK as justice has so far not been done."She added: "The Greek court made little attempt to establish the facts surrounding Liam's death and did not even call known eyewitnesses."Mrs Visser said: "We understand the decision about what happens next legally is in the hands of the English legal and health systems."We can only trust that they will re-examine the evidence as a whole and make a decision that will protect John from himself and others."© Independent Television News Limited 2008. All rights reserved.
ITN | March 27, 2008
