Grieving mother revisits tragedy

By Chris Mason
BBC News, Crete

Natasha Hogan visited the site on Tuesday

Natasha Hogan, the ex-wife of the man on trial for the murder of their son, has returned for the first time to the place where he was killed.

Mrs Hogan, accompanied by her mother and stepfather, travelled from Hania to Ierapetra to place flowers on the spot where Liam fell.

It is the resort the furthest south east on the island, with stony beaches looking out to the clear blue Libyan Sea.

A short walk from the four storey, four star hotel is a range of seafront bars and restaurants. Quiet today, it is easy to imagine how popular they must be during the peak holiday season.

It was here in August 2006, during a family holiday, that John Hogan fell from his hotel room balcony with his two children.

Two year old Mia survived - as did Mr Hogan. But Liam, who landed head first, died.

John Hogan's trial is due to restart in Hania on Wednesday.

Face-to-face with accused

Mrs Hogan and her family members spent Tuesday afternoon travelling from Hania to Ierapetra, a three-and-a-half hour drive through the Cretan mountains.

They arrived at the Petra Mare hotel on Tuesday afternoon, with a few small bunches of flowers.

The trio walked slowly and in silence, arm in arm, as they headed for the spot where the child's body was found.

They then bowed their heads, and paused, staying at the spot for about 20 minutes.

The trial is expected to resume on Wednesday morning. Mr Hogan has denied that he was guilty of premeditated murder.

"I did not plan it," he told the court in Hania on Monday.

If found guilty of intentional murder, he faces life imprisonment. In reality, in Greece that means a maximum of 25 years.

But if the court determines that the balance of his mind was disturbed, he could face between five and 15 years in a secure psychiatric unit.