Couple clash in court during balcony murder trial

A former husband and wife clashed in court today when he went on trial accused of murdering their six-year-old son by throwing him from a hotel balcony.

John Hogan, who also jumped from the fourth-floor room clutching their daughter, interrupted his ex-wife as she gave evidence on the island of Crete.

Natasha Hogan recalled the night in August 2006 when Hogan hurled Liam from the balcony then jumped himself with two-year-old Mia. Liam died of head injuries but Hogan and Mia survived with broken limbs after he broke their fall.

Standing in the same room as her ex-husband for the first time since Liam's death, Mrs Hogan said she booked the holiday in the hope of patching up their marriage but instead it had been plagued by rows.

Facing questions from defence lawyer Dimitris Xyritakis, Mrs Hogan said she did not tell Hogan she was leaving him during the trip.

"We had talked about divorce in the past but never during the trip," she said.

"I think he had not accepted the possibility of our relationship ending. He was upset by the potential break-up."

Mrs Hogan said that when she was pregnant with Liam, Mr Hogan, whose two brothers had both committed suicide, began having panic attacks.

"I think his family history contributed to his problems," she said.

Sitting with his back turned to her, Hogan interrupted, saying: "She called my family a 'family of death' when my grandmother died one month before we went on holiday."

Mrs Hogan replied: "He didn't mean to kill my children but I do know with his history of suicide that he should not have taken my children. He is a selfish man."

Hogan is charged with murder and attempted suicide.

Denying the murder charge, he told the court in the port town of Chania: "I do not accept the charge that I planned to kill my children."

He added, in a voice cracking with emotion: "I did not plan it."

Mrs Hogan, a nurse, had earlier been quizzed about "flirty'' emails she had swapped with an old schoolfriend in 2005.

She told how Hogan had discovered them and phoned her at work.

He had also found a Valentine’s card, she said.

“There was a Valentine’s card. He wanted to know who this was from.

“When I got home he was very upset. We talked about it for a few hours and I reassured him that all was ok.”

She added: “I think John was concerned but he believed my reply that there was no physical contact.

“We had problems but we agreed to try for the sake of my children.”

Over the next 12 months the marriage deteriorated, she said.

“2006 was very stressful – I was working four days a week and John was working seven.”