Balcony jump father attempts suicide

A BRITISH father who is accused of killing his six-year-old son in a fall from a hotel balcony made an unsuccessful attempt to kill himself in prison, his lawyer said last night.

Businessman John Hogan, 32, is accused of killing his son Liam, when they plunged 50ft from the fourth floor during a family holiday on Crete.

The boy and his sister, Mia, two, were allegedly being held by their father when he jumped from the building on August 15th.

Hogan, 32, from Bradley Stoke, Bristol, cut his wrists in Korydallos Prison in Athens, two days after being charged with Liam’s murder and the attempted murder of Mia.

His lawyer, Dimitris Xyritakis, said: “Mr Hogan is in prison in Korydallos, where he attempted suicide.

“He tried to cut his arms and had the tool to do it.

“He is now in the hospital in the prison, but was not successful in his suicide.”

Mr Xyritakis said he was angered that Hogan had been given the opportunity to make an attempt on his own life when he was on suicide watch.

“I warned the prison that he would try this, but they didn’t accept my warning and it lead him to do such a thing.

“The guards must protect any prisoner from such a thing.

“I’m very disappointed. I will be asking the minister of justice to punish everybody who has let him down.”

The lawyer said he has been informed of the incident by a clerk at the prison and had not had the chance to speak to his client.

Liam suffered head injuries but Mia survived after breaking her arm.

Hogan was formally remanded in custody after appearing in court for the first time on Wednesday.

His trial is not expected to take place until next year.

Mr Xyritakis said Hogan would be examined by a psychiatrist in a bid to prove his mental condition meant he was not responsible for his actions.

Hogan sustained a broken arm, leg and chest injuries after jumping from the balcony of the Petra Mare Hotel of Lerapetra.

The family had been on a two-week holiday when the tragedy happened.

The couple had allegedly argued just moments before the fall.

Hogan’s brothers, Stephen and Paul, had both killed themselves in recent years.

Hogan was being held at Korydallos because it was the only prison in Greece suitable for “men with mental problems“, his lawyer said.

Hogan claims he has no memory of taking his children and leaping from the balcony.

In a statement to Crete’s Neapoli District Court, Hogan said he was “mentally disorientated” because of stress caused by his deteriorating marriage and his failing tiling business.

Hogan said: “I was unable to bear the thought of living without my children.

“The desire to self-destruct which exploded within me overwhelmed my instinct of self-preservation and my sense of respect for other human lives”.

Liam’s funeral took place earlier this week at the Holy Trinity Church, Bradley Stoke.