Jean Hanlon murder suspect to be charged 15 years after Scots mum's Greek island death

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Police in Greece are preparing to charge a murder suspect identified in the death of a Scots mum on Crete 15 years ago. Jean Hanlon, 53, from Dumfries, went missing on the Greek island on March 9, 2009, after a night out.

She was found dead in Heraklion harbour four days later. Her three sons have always insisted their mum, who lived on the island, was murdered and have campaigned for justice ever since.

Earlier this year, the family hired a private investigator who re-examined evidence before identifying the man he believes is responsible. Jean’s eldest son Michael has since confirmed he expects the key suspect to be charged in the coming days.

Writing online, the 39-year-old said: "Justice for Jean is coming."

It comes after private investigator Haris Fluskounis re-examined evidence before identifying the man he believes is responsible. He handed over a 29-page dossier to prosecutors in Greece. Family lawyer Apostolos Xiritakis said: “We expect the case to be reopened so as to start inquiries about the person we indicate as the suspect.”

Speaking earlier this year, Michael said: “The person identified was someone who was known to Mum. It’s no one who has been accused before. The person was in clear sight, was spoken to at the time by police. Haris has produced a 4900-word report. The report clearly looks at motive, evidence, after evidence and background.

“Now the case will be solved. We have identified the person that killed our mum and the puzzle is nearly complete. The authorities have no choice but to reopen the case. We then have to wait for a warrant to be issued for arrest. The evidence has always been there. It should have been done at the time. If it had, I don’t believe we’d be here today.

“The family 100 per cent believe this person is responsible. After reviewing the evidence in the report, it’s hard to see how it could be anyone else.”

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Jean went missing on the island after moving from Dumfries to work in the coastal village of Kato Gouves. She had made new friends and had a job in the travel industry and did some bar work after having a divorce.

In the hours before her death, she’d spoken to friends on the phone after meeting a man at a bar and later sent a final text message to a pal saying “help”. Four days later, her body was pulled from the harbour.

At first, Greek authorities said Jean had drowned. But with persistent pressure from her family, a second post-mortem revealed she had suffered a broken neck, shattered ribs, a punctured lung and facial injuries consistent with a struggle. It was concluded she died before going into the water. It emerged Jean had arranged to meet two rival male friends in a bar hours before she vanished.

The family’s campaign forced the Greeks to open a murder inquiry and two men, a Greek and a Belgian, were questioned. Both were released without charge. Court officials ruled in 2012 there wasn’t enough evidence.

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