Boy's balcony death ruled unlawful

A six-year-old boy who died after he was pushed by his father off a fourth-floor hotel balcony in Crete was unlawfully killed, a British coroner ruled today.

Liam Hogan, from Bristol, died of severe head injuries after falling nearly 20 metres from the Petra Mare Hotel, in Crete, with his father John and sister Mia, then aged two.

Holidaymakers who were at the resort on the night of his death came forward for the first time yesterday at the boy’s inquest.

Sarah Davidson and Kerry Jackman told Avon coroner Paul Forrest they saw Hogan push his two children from the balcony edge before jumping off himself.

Mr Hogan (33)  has been receiving treatment at a psychiatric hospital near Athens since a Greek court cleared him of murder, ruling he was suffering an “earthquake” of psychosis when he took his son's life.

© 2008 ireland.com