AN inquest to decide whether balcony leap father John Hogan unlawfully killed his son is expected to start next week.

Mr Hogan, right, of Bradley Stoke, plunged 50ft with daughter Mia, then two, after pushing six-year-old Liam to his death following an argument while on holiday in Crete in August 2006. Mia survived the fall.

In 2008, an inquest was held at Kings Weston House, where the then Avon Coroner, Paul Forrest, recorded a verdict of unlawful killing. But two High Court judges later quashed that verdict and ordered another inquest. The judges stated that Mr Forrest's failure to consider the question of Hogan's mental state was a "really quite serious error of law".

The new inquest is due to start at Flax Bourton Coroner's court on Monday. It will be presided over by the new Avon Coroner, Maria Voisin, with no jury. Court officials declined to give details of who was due to give evidence. Hogan, a former tiler, pushed Liam after a row with his then wife Natasha, during a trip to the resort of Ierapetra aimed at shoring up their troubled relationship.

Wheatfield Primary School pupil Liam suffered massive head injuries and died, while Hogan and Mia suffered broken bones.

Hogan was cleared of murder by reason of insanity in a Greek court. The Crown Prosecution Service has previously said that he would not face prosecution here.

After 16 months in a Greek psychiatric hospital he returned to the UK and received treatment at Callington Road psychiatric hospital in Brislington, as a voluntary patient.