‘Infuriating’ that Jean Hanlon’s killer still free after murder conviction says family
The court recognised the guilty man’s diminished responsibility due to his mental state
The son of Scottish woman Jean Hanlon, who was murdered in Crete 17 years ago, says the fact her killer is still free pending an appeal is “infuriating” to her family.
The body of the mum-of-three, from Dumfries, was discovered in 2009 in the sea off Heraklion. The 53-year-old’s death was initially considered to be an accident and police did not open a murder investigation until a year later.
Her family launched a long-running campaign for justice and, on Friday, her killer was finally convicted after 17 years. The man in his 50s, who cannot be named under Greek law, was sentenced to 10 years in prison, though the Greek legal system means he will not go to jail until his appeal has been exhausted.
The court recognised the guilty man’s diminished responsibility due to his mental state.
Speaking about the trial Ms Hanlon’s son, Michael Porter, said it was “phenomenal and overwhelming and unbelievable” to finally see the man convicted, adding: “To campaign and work so hard for 17 years, and then finally be vindicated – and to hear mum’s voice being heard across the courtroom by a room of strangers – was just the vindication we needed.”
During the family’s campaign, which involved his, brothers Robert and David, they hired a private investigator to try and uncover the truth about what happened.
Ms Hanlon had gone to a marina cafe with the man who has now been convicted of her murder, the court in Crete was told, and she had sent text messages to friends saying she did not want to stay there with him.
Mr Porter said it is now clear the original investigation was not carried out properly.
He said the family are “extremely grateful” about the conviction, but nevertheless are frustrated that their mother’s killer is still free.
Mr Porter said: “Then to see him walk out of the courtroom free was just – it’s unimaginable. It’s so infuriating.
“You’ve just convicted a murderer and you’ve allowed him to go back on the streets.
“Obviously, through diminished responsibility, because of his mental health state.
“But he made choices to not tell our mum about his illness, to not take his medication, knowing that the repercussions of that were going to be extremely dangerous and were dangerous.”
Mr Porter said he respected the Greek system but the killer’s freedom still felt like “a massive blow to the stomach” and they have been left in “limbo” until the appeal process is complete.