The son of Scottish mum Jean Hanlon has expressed his despair after her convicted murderer was allowed to walk free from court and could remain at large for up to 18 months pending an appeal. The killer, a 54-year-old Greek man, was found guilty last week of murdering Jean Hanlon on the island of Crete in March 2009, but was immediately released after filing an appeal.
Family's long fight for justice
Jean Hanlon, 49, went missing on Crete in March 2009. Her body was found in Heraklion harbour with horrific injuries, including a broken neck, punctured lung, and facial injuries. The initial investigation by port police concluded her death was accidental. However, her sons Michael, Robert, and David Porter were not convinced and launched a 10-year campaign to reopen the case. A private detective, Haris Veramon, uncovered key evidence, including Jean's diary showing her ex-boyfriend had hounded her after their split.
The killer was finally convicted by a jury at Lasithi Criminal Court in Neapoli. However, the court recognised diminished responsibility under Article 36 of the Greek criminal code due to the defendant's mental health issues, reducing his sentence to 10 years. He then walked free after filing an appeal.
Son's anguish
Michael Porter, 41, told the Sunday Mail: "It was a bittersweet moment, I am obviously happy that he has finally been convicted but I don't feel like mum really has justice, and I certainly will not find peace until he is behind bars." He added: "I find it incredible that he can be allowed to remain in the community despite clearly representing a danger. He has mental health issues and if he fails to take medication he could easily reoffend, he is a violent and high risk individual."
Michael revealed that during the trial, he and his brothers were left alone in a courtroom with the killer, who was not handcuffed or under police guard. "It was a very uncomfortable and strange situation," he said. "Throughout the trial he was allowed to go about as he pleased, he would use the same toilets and facilities as us."
Delayed justice
Michael said: "I just want to see him in jail and I want him to die in jail as a punishment for what he did to my mum. He has already been free for 17 years and we have been told the worst case scenario could be a year and a half though we very much hope it will be a lot quicker than that."
Pathologists told the court that Jean was killed by a blow to the back of the neck, causing an "incomplete tear in the brain stem," and that her injuries were not consistent with a fall. She would have been dead before entering the water. The killer's sister testified that her brother's mental health had been poor from an early age, and if he did not take medication, he would become aggressive and have no memory of his actions.
Broader implications
Michael said: "I cried when the verdict was read out because it has been a long and difficult fight. But I now realise that fight is not over and that we need to see this man finally taken off the streets." He criticised the initial investigation: "It is clear to me that the port authority police who were initially involved have a lot of questions to answer – if they had did their job properly this would have been settled 17 years ago and an awful lot of heartache would have been avoided."
Jean's family is among several bereaved relatives who have fought for justice after loved ones died in suspicious circumstances abroad, including Kirsty Maxwell, 27, from Livingston, who fell from a balcony in Benidorm in 2017, and Craig Mallon, 26, from Coatbridge, who was killed on a stag do in Lloret de Mar, Spain, in 2012.
