World News Story

09 January 2009 01:05 BST

Father who threw son off hotel balcony 'could be home soon'

The British man who killed his six-year-old son by throwing him from a hotel balcony in Crete could be released within months.

John Hogan, is currently receiving treatment at a local hospital after being cleared of murder, after doctors in Athens claimed he was "incapable" of taking his son Liam's life.

A hospital spokesman has said that Mr Hogan was showing signs of recovery and could be returning to receive further treatment in Britain soon.

In January, a Greek court heard how Mr Hogan and his former wife Natasha had gone on holiday in Ierapetra to resolve marriage difficulties.

After an argument between the couple one night on the holiday, Mr Hogan threw his son Liam off a fourth floor balcony before jumping with his young daughter Mia.

Mr Hogan and his daughter survived the plunge but Liam did not.

The Greek court subsequently declared that Mr Hogan had been incapable of murdering his son because of his mental state.

Managing director of the hospital in Crete, Athanasios Kosmopoulos said today: "A request has been made by Mr Hogan's family to the appropriate authorities, so that all concerned may examine the possibility of his return to England in the near future for further treatment.

"Depending on the advice provided by the medical and legal authorities, it is our belief that this process could be finalised within a time framework of between three and six months, he said.

"Mr Hogan is indeed showing encouraging signs of recovery and of adaptation to the outside world.

The hospital director also confirmed that Mr Hogan was in good health and was communicating with fellow patients and the staff.

During the trail in January Mr Hogan's ex-wife Natasha claimed that their son had "lost his life for nothing".