Breaking news: John Hogan will face no further legal action on return to UK
The Bristol father who threw his two children off a hotel balcony, killing his son, would face no further legal action if he returned to the UK.
John Hogan pushed his son Liam to his death while on holiday in Crete in August 2006.
The former tiler, of Bradley Stoke, was acquitted of murder in January on the grounds that he was mentally unstable at the time.
The Crown Prosecution Service was passed the file by Avon and Somerset police after Avon coroner Paul Forrest ruled Liam had been unlawfully killed by his father.
But it has decided not the take any legal action.
The jury in the Greek case decided Mr Hogan had not murdered Liam, but had been suffering from "an earthquake of insanity" at the time.
Hogan and his ex-wife Natasha had gone on holiday to the Petra Mare hotel in Lerapetra in an effort to resolve marriage difficulties in 2006.
Hogan pushed Liam and his two-year-old sister, Mia, before jumping himself after a row with his wife. Liam died, but Mia survived the 50ft plunge.
Following a detailed review of the case the CPS has decided that he would face no further action if he returned to the UK.
In very limited circumstances, the director of public prosecutions may apply to the Court of Appeal for permission to prosecute a person who has been acquitted and this also applies where the person has been acquitted by a court in a foreign country.
However, reviewing lawyer Stephen O'Doherty, from 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, know Mrs Visser, has been informed of the decision.
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by Minnie Me, Bristol
Wednesday, October 01 2008, 12:17AM
“Glad to see!!! I think Its the right decision! John has suffered enough and he will have a life sentence in his for as long as he is on this planet!!! I agree with comments his then wife Natasha! Where is she now??? Who is she with ??? and lets face it she is the one who knows what drove him to this and she got paid for telling the world in the national newspapers to fund her new life in Australia or wherever it is she went !!! talk about running away from reality!”
by Kaye, Bristol
Monday, September 29 2008, 10:54PM
“I am not passing comment on rights and wrongs merely stating that we are all responsible for our own actions. It is far to easy to say it wasn't my fault.
No I wasn't there and neither were any of you so why try and pin 'blame' on his wife (or anyone else for that matter) even if she WAS seeing someone else that doesn't justify his actions. people argue and have affairs all the time but the wronged party doesn't go jumping off balconies with their kids do they?
We can't all exist in a world where we carefully vet our own actions before saying or doing things - There are far too many variable for that. Would the Ex Mrs Hogan change her behaviour if she knew then what she knows now? Well duh obviously, but that doesn't make her a responsible.
It is all too easy to try and absolve yourself of guilt by finding someone to blame. But life doesn't work like that. Sometimes people do things for the sake of it. This guy had mental health issues. He would still have done something like this regardless of how his wife did or didn't behave. It could have been something as trivial as not putting enough sugar in his tea that was the trigger. Mental health problems aren't rational (thats the whole point) so you can't look at this thing in a rational manner.
So stop speculating and trying to apportion blame where there is none. I'm sure Mrs Hogan feels guilt just the same as Mr Hogan.
At least he can claim he doesn't remember what happened. I'll bet Mrs hogan replays those last moments of her son over and over again.
Shame on you all”
by Andy, Wiltshire
Monday, September 29 2008, 6:42PM
“Mr Hogan was deemed to be severely ill at the time of his actions and therefore was judged to be too ill to be held criminally responsible for his actions. Kaye - Mr Hogan has his 'life sentence' and if a member of your family ever find themselves living with ill health while facing a criminal investigation you will be relieved if the investigators share the views of shywitch & diane”
by Mdisa, Bristol
Monday, September 29 2008, 5:40PM
“It does appear this man was seriously unstable.
He was ill and needed help.
It is tragic what happened. I also hope he finds some peace. Although I doubt he ever will.
Mental illness is a serious condition. Widely misunderstood.”
by Diane, Canada, 5 years, lived in Bristol for 40
Monday, September 29 2008, 4:02PM
“Kaye?
How can you pass comments like "Nobody drove him to do it"
Were you there? Do you know his ex wife personally & you want to defend her.
The bottom line is this man was extremely unhappy, mentally unstable and "desperate"
I believe something happened to trigger this.
His then wife who is a nurse, should have had better understanding with her husband, who was obviously sick at that time.
He obviously had been under a great deal of strain and stress for some time.
Who knows how long she had been seeing this new husband before?
I am aware that this does not justify in anyway, shape or form, what happened but i do agree with "most" comments that she played a part, such as "pressing the button"
So less of "don't be petty"
Listen to the people Kaye, listen carefully & stop defending.
John i am so pleased there will not be a further trial for you.
You have suffered enough.
I say again, i hope you find your peace, i hope time will help you.
God Bless
Diane
(mother of 3)”