We finally know who murdered our mum
AN INVESTIGATION into the death of a mum on a Greek island 15 years ago is to be reopened after a new murder suspect was identified.
Jean Hanlon, 53, from Dumfries, went missing on Crete and was found dead in Heraklion harbour in March 2009.
Her three sons have always believed their mum, who moved to the island, was murdered and since her death have fought for justice.
In January, the family hired private investigator Haris Fluskounis who re-examined evidence before identifying the man he believes is responsible. A 29-page dossier has been handed 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.”
Jean’s eldest son Michael, 39, 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
Dossier of evidence handed to police background. Now the case will be the evidence in the report, it’s hard to solved. We have identified the person see how it could be anyone else.” that killed our mum and the puzzle is Jean had moved to the village of Kato nearly complete. Gouves four years before her death to
“The authorities have no choice but start a new life after a divorce. She had to reopen the case. We then have to wait made new friends and had a job in the for a warrant to be issued for arrest.” travel industry and did some bar work.
“The evidence has always been there. She went missing on March 9, 2009, It should have been done at the time. If after a night out. In the hours before her it had, I don’t believe we’d be here today. death, she’d spoken to friends on the
“The family 100 per cent believe this phone after meeting a man at a bar and person is responsible. After reviewing later sent a final text message to a pal saysaying “help”. Four days later, her body was pulled from the harharbour. The Greek authorities at fifirst said she’d drowned. But afteafter pressure from her family, a secsecond post-mortem revealed she hhad suffered a broken neck, shattshattered ribs, a punctured lung and facial injuries consistent with a struggle.
It wwas concluded she died before going into the water. It emergemerged Jean had arranged to meet ttwo rival male friends in a bar hoursho before she vanished. The family’sf campaign forced the Greeks to open a murder inquiry and twoto men,m a Greek and a Belgian, were questioned. Both were released without charge. Court officials ruled in 2012 there wasn’t enough evidence. Police decided to re-examine the case in 2019 when a documentary in Greece highlighted her sons’ search for justice. But that investigation was wound down after no new evidence was found. In March 2021, police launched their third probe. The case was passed to the Department of Organised Crime. Neither the Greek police nor Ministry of Justice replied to requests for comment.