A man known to Jean is on trial for murder after the Dumfries mum was found in the water off Crete’s Heraklion on March 13, 2009.
A man is on trial accused of murdering Scots mum Jean Hanlon(Image: PA)
The family of a mum found dead in Greece 17 years ago heard harrowing details of her final moments today as a man went on trial accused of her murder.
The body of Jean Hanlon, from Dumfries, was found in the water off Crete’s Heraklion on March 13, 2009, four days after she disappeared during a night out.
A man known to Jean is on trial in Crete, where he has denied murdering the 53-year-old.
On the first day of evidence, Jean’s three sons, who have travelled to Crete in the hope of finally seeing justice, heard distressing details from a pathologist of the injuries she suffered before she died.
Michael O’Porter said: “It was heartbreaking to hear from the forensic coroner about the extents of her injuries, some of which we didn’t fully know. This was quite painful.
Jean Hanlon’s son Michael
“To now know she most probably could have still been alive when thrown into the water. Our only hope is that she wasn’t conscious enough.”
Jean moved to Crete in 2005, working in bars and restaurants in the coastal resort of Kato Gouves.
Her death was initially reported as a drowning, but a second post-mortem suggested injuries consistent with a struggle. It found a broken neck, punctured lung and shattered rib.
Her loved ones had long campaigned for the case to be reinvestigated and even hired a private detective in a bid to uncover the truth.
A 54-year-old man, originally from Crete, went on trial today but cannot be named under the country’s laws, which grants anonymity to those accused until a conviction is confirmed.
Jean Hanlon went missing on Crete in March 2009
Michael and his brothers David and Robert gave evidence to the court, with Robert claiming his mum had been “bullied” by the accused after ending their relationship.
Evidence from a forensic pathologist involved in a review of the case in 2019 reportedly told the court that, while she had not directly examined Jean, her death was likely caused by an incomplete tear of the brain stem.
The pathologist said this was likely caused by a fatal blow to the back of the neck with a blunt object, saying the mum’s injuries weren’t consistent with a fall.
Michael said seeing the trial finally get underway was an overwhelming day for the family.
He said: “The anxiety is intense, not knowing what to expect. The fears of not getting justice.
“Will our mum finally be heard?
“The first part of the trial was incredibly hard. Whilst being questioned by the judges and the public prosecutor, in addition to both lawyers for the prosecution and defence was extremely emotional, as we had to listen to the likely last moments of my mother.
A poster appealing for information in Greece
“We wanted to give mum the best fight ever. So it was so important that we say the right things, not to miss anything, describe and convey to the court the real facts.
“I’m proud of us for how we spoke for our mum.”
The Record told last week how the family feared a “massive setback” in the case after travelling out to Crete to be told the accused had secured a postponement to the trial. But a new date was then set for this week.
Our sister paper the Sunday Mail previously revealed how a report from a private investigator finally led to the breakthrough Jean’s family had been waiting for.
Haris Flaskounis’s investigation had focused on the contents of Jean’s diary and led to him befriending the suspect in the case and securing vital information which led to the prosecution.
The trial – which is being heard in Neapoli – is expected to last up to four days.
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