A Greek man has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for the murder of Scottish mother Jean Hanlon in Crete 17 years ago. The 55 year old was found guilty following a trial at Lassithi Mixed Assize Court on Friday, July 3. He will not be named until all court proceedings and appeals have concluded. The court acknowledged his diminished responsibility owing to mental health issues. Despite the custodial sentence, he has been released pending the outcome of his appeal, in line with the
Greek legal system. Jean’s three sons were reduced to tears as the verdict was delivered in the courtroom, reports the Daily Record . The body of Jean Hanlon, from Dumfries, was discovered in the water off Crete’s Heraklion on March 13, 2009, four days after she vanished during a night out. Her death was initially recorded as a drowning, but a second post-mortem examination revealed injuries consistent with a struggle. It uncovered a broken neck, a punctured lung and shattered ribs. The Greek man, who
was acquainted with Jean, had previously denied her murder. On the opening day of evidence during the trial, Jean’s three sons, who had travelled to Crete, were subjected to harrowing details from a pathologist regarding the injuries she sustained before her death. The man claimed he had no knowledge of her death until he read about it in the newspapers. However, a breakthrough came after Jean’s sons Michael, David and Robert hired a private investigator to pursue the case. Using Jean’s diary as a starting
point, Haris Flaskounis managed to befriend the suspect, ultimately securing crucial information that led to the prosecution. During the trial, it emerged that the man had kept a photo of Jean for 17 years. When questioned by the prosecutor as to why he had held onto it, he reportedly told Lassithi Mixed Assize Court: “Why wouldn’t I remember it well?”. The deliberations followed nearly two decades of Jean’s sons fighting tirelessly to bring justice for their mother. They delivered harrowing testimony to the court, with
Robert claiming his mum had been “bullied” by the accused following the end of their relationship. A forensic pathologist who carried out a review of the case in 2019 reportedly told the court that, while she had not directly examined Jean, her death was most likely the result of an incomplete tear of the brain stem. The pathologist stated this was probably caused by a fatal blow to the back of the neck with a blunt object, adding that Jean’s injuries were inconsistent with a
fall. Jean had relocated to Crete in 2005, where she worked in bars and restaurants in the coastal resort of Kato Gouves. Her son Michael previously spoke to the Record about the overwhelming emotions the family felt when the trial finally got under way. 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. “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.”
Jean Hanlon, Crete, Lassithi Mixed Assize Court, Greek man sentenced, murder trial, Heraklion, Kato Gouves, Scottish mother, mental health diminished responsibility, private investigator Haris Flaskounis