- Jean Hanlon’s demise in Crete 15 years in the past was initially dominated as drowning
- Final 12 months organised crime detectives concluded that foul play was concerned
The household of a Scots girl murdered in Greece 15 years in the past are assured they’ve sufficient proof for police to lastly arrest her killer and reopen the case.
Michael Porter, alongside together with his brothers Robert and David, has been preventing since 2009 to have the demise of his mom Jean Hanlon correctly investigated by Greek authorities.
The 53-year-old’s demise in Crete was initially dominated as a drowning, however final 12 months organised crime detectives concluded foul play was concerned.
In a bitter blow to the household, nevertheless, they had been instructed an excessive amount of time had handed and there was inadequate proof to catch her killer.
Jean Hanlon’s demise in 2009 was initially dominated as drowning
However after hiring a personal investigator in January, Mr Porter says there’s now sufficient ‘incriminating’ proof to establish the person answerable for killing their mom, who had lived on the Greek island for 4 years.
He stated a lawyer performing on behalf of the household would hand a file to police this week. Mr Porter added: ‘It is 29 pages of incriminating proof that factors to this suspect. Sadly this proof has at all times been there. It was, in the long run, fairly straightforward to course of – it was so clear and there in entrance of us.
‘If the police had delved a bit deeper and investigated everybody she final spoke to and carried out their fundamental job it may have saved a number of heartache. They initially stated it was drowning. It wasn’t till after preventing and preventing that they stated foul play was concerned.’
He stated data written in his mom’s diary, which was beforehand translated to police, has been key to assembling the proof he’s assured factors to somebody his mom knew.
Mr Porter additionally believes notes in her diary ‘confirms the motive’.
Mrs Hanlon, a former hospital secretary from Dumfries, had moved to the seashore city of Kato Gouves to start out a brand new life working in tourism and hospitality.
The household of Jean Hanlon, who died on the Greek island of Crete in 2009, imagine she was murdered they usually know who killed her
Mrs Hanlon had moved to Kato Gouves on Crete 4 years previous to her demise
She went lacking in March 2009 after an evening out. She had instructed mates she was assembly a person at a restaurant and later despatched a textual content message saying merely: ‘Assist’. 4 days later, her physique was discovered within the sea at Heraklion.
Police insisted she had drowned by chance however strain from the household led to a second autopsy examination. It revealed she suffered a damaged neck and ribs, a punctured lung and facial accidents, and was most likely useless earlier than she entered the water.
Homicide detectives questioned two males – a Greek and a Belgian – however each had been launched with out cost and a court docket dominated in 2012 there could be no prosecutions.
It was solely after the case featured on a Channel 5 documentary and the Greek model of Crimewatch {that a} second probe was launched in 2019, though no recent proof was discovered.
Detectives final 12 months instructed the household the demise was no accident though there have been no new clues to take the inquiry additional. However Mr Porter is now assured the case ‘will probably be solved’ thanks to personal investigator Haris Veramon.
He stated: ‘Haris has uncovered new proof and we have now now recognized the person who killed our mum.
‘This has been a nightmare hanging over us. However now I imagine we will get justice and can lastly be capable to let her go in peace.’
Greek police had been contacted for remark.
