The family of Jean Hanlon, a mother-of-three from Dumfries whose body was found in a Greek harbour in 2009, suffered another devastating blow when the murder trial of the accused was postponed just two days before it was scheduled to begin.
Trial Postponed at the Eleventh Hour
The accused, a 54-year-old man from Crete, was set to stand trial on Friday at Lassithi Criminal Court in Neapoli, accused of murdering 53-year-old Jean Hanlon. However, on Tuesday, his legal team successfully appealed for a postponement, citing the recent instruction of a lawyer who needed more time to prepare the case.
Jean's son Michael Porter, 40, expressed his anger and despair: "The accused has appealed for a postponement and it was approved on Tuesday. So after travelling all the way out here and building up for it, the trial is not happening on Friday. Yet again we feel failed by the Greek system. The entitlement is all about the accused and there's nothing for the victims. To do this two days before the trial is disgusting."
A 17-Year Fight for Justice
Jean Hanlon moved to Crete in 2005, working in bars and restaurants in the coastal resort of Kato Gouves. On March 9, 2009, she disappeared during a night out. Her body was found in the water in Heraklion harbour four days later, on March 13. Initially reported as a drowning, a second post-mortem revealed a catalogue of injuries consistent with a struggle, including a broken neck, punctured lung, and shattered rib.
The family's quest for justice has been fraught with setbacks. The case was "archived" by local authorities in 2018 but reopened in 2021 when police confirmed a third probe. The Greek Department of Organised Crime concluded that a crime had taken place leading to Jean's death. A private investigator, Haris Flaskounis, focused on Jean's diary, which she wrote in every day, and befriended the suspect, securing vital information that led to the prosecution.
Breakthrough and New Hope
The accused was charged in January 2023, but in August the case was thrown into doubt over claims of insufficient evidence. However, appeal judges at Heraklion Judicial Council ruled that the man would stand trial for Jean's murder. Michael Porter said the development gave the family hope after 17 years: "We never thought we would get to this point. It is a victory but we've not won the war. We might get the closure we need, to finally let Mum rest."
The family, including Michael and his brothers David and Robert, travelled to Crete together for the first time since the tragedy to attend the trial. Michael learned of the postponement at a court hearing while his brothers were preparing to board their flights.
Impact on the Family
Michael criticized the lack of communication from the courts: "The courts should have alerted us to this. They must have known he's not had a lawyer for all that time. We've had the expense of travelling out here and taken the time off work, which is just the superficial things, but it's also the mental preparation it has taken. On Friday we will attend the court. We don't accept the adjournment. Hopefully we will find out how long he will be allowed to postpone this. It's a bit up in the air at the moment. It just shows how the victims are being treated yet again."
The family continues to seek justice for Jean, vowing to persist despite the latest heartache.
