Mother of Crete boy urges UK authorities to prosecute father

The mother of a six-year-old English boy who fell to his death from a hotel balcony has urged the British authorities to prosecute his father for pushing him.

Natasha Visser was commenting after a coroner delivered a verdict of unlawful killing on her son Liam Hogan.

Liam died of severe head injuries after falling 50ft from the Petra Mare Hotel, in Crete, with his father John and sister Mia, then aged two.

John Hogan, 33, was cleared of murder earlier this year after a Greek court heard he was suffering an "earthquake" of psychosis when he took Liam's life.

But, after Avon coroner Paul Forrest concluded Liam's inquest by saying his death was unlawful, Mrs Visser, 35, said: "Justice has so far not been done."

A spokeswoman for the Crown Prosecution Service said it would consider any evidence sent by the police.

Mrs Visser, speaking at the end of the inquest in Bristol, criticised the Greek proceedings.

The inquest heard from eyewitnesses who saw Hogan push the children from the balcony but were not called to give evidence during the trial in Crete.

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."

John Hogan's family also made a statement. It was read out by his lawyer Kerstin Scheel.

"Mr Hogan has been acquitted of any crime in relation to Liam's death by the Greek courts because at the time of his actions he was suffering from a psychotic condition such that he neither knew nor understood the nature and consequences of his actions.

"The coroner did not question this psychiatric evidence and did not take Mr Hogan's state of mind into account in reaching his verdict of unlawful killing.

"Words cannot adequately describe the love that Liam's parents and family felt for him.

"They must all now attempt to live their lives coming to terms with the pain they feel as a result of their loss.

"Mr Hogan must also live his life coming to terms with the pain his actions have caused others and, in particular, Liam's mother.

"It is hoped that all of Liam's family will be allowed to do so in private, without the intrusion of others into their grief."