Killer father faces no UK charges

No action is to be taken in the UK against a father who threw his son to his death from a hotel balcony, the Crown Prosecution Service has said.

Liam Hogan, six, of Bradley Stoke near Bristol, died after falling 50ft (15m) from the Petra Mare Hotel in Crete with his father, John, and sister, Mia.

Mr Hogan, 34, was cleared of murder by a Greek court, but an inquest in the UK ruled that Liam was unlawfully killed.

The children's mother had urged the British authorities to prosecute him.

Liam died from head injuries and Mia, then aged two, broke several bones in the fall in August 2006.

Mr Hogan was committed to a psychiatric unit in Greece for a minimum of three years after the trial, where he remains.

'No evidence'

Following the inquest in March 2008, a file was passed by Avon and Somerset Police to the CPS to consider whether there was a basis for bringing a prosecution against Mr Hogan should he return to England or Wales.

In certain circumstances the Director of Public Prosecutions may apply to the Court of Appeal for permission to prosecute a person who has been acquitted.

This also applies where the person has been acquitted by a court in a foreign country.

Reviewing lawyer Stephen O'Doherty of the CPS Special Crime Division said: "In order to make such an application there must be 'new and compelling evidence' that was not available at the original trial.

"An examination of the court proceedings shows that there was very little dispute as to what had taken place.

"Mr Hogan was acquitted because of the evidence as to his state of mind at that time.

"Any new and compelling evidence would have to relate to Mr Hogan's mental state as it was in August 2006.

"Such evidence would also have to be 'substantial and highly probative' of any case against him.

"The director has concluded that there is no evidence in this category that would enable an application to be made."

Mr Hogan's former wife Natasha Visser has been informed of the decision, the CPS said.

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