A Greek man has been found guilty of murdering a Scottish woman in Crete 17 years ago. Jean Hanlon's body was found in the water near Heraklion in March 2009.
A 54-year-old man – whose name under Greek law will not be released until the legal process, including appeals, is complete – was found guilty and jailed for 10 years after a four-day trial at the Lasithi Courts in Neapoli.
The court recognized his diminished responsibility due to mental health problems and he will not go to prison until his appeal is heard. Greek authorities initially ruled that Jean's death was accidental, but her family did not accept this and demanded that the case be reinvestigated.
A later report found that she had suffered bodily harm. In 2023, the family hired a private investigator who compiled a report and submitted it to the authorities.
The trial heard that the suspect had been in a brief relationship with Jean Hanlon in early 2009, but he refused to let her end the relationship and began stalking her.
Her body was discovered on March 13, 2009, four days after she was reported missing. The prosecution argued that the suspect was with her the night she died. The court heard that the suspect had been diagnosed with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder and was taking medication every day.
His sister told the court that he would become aggressive if he didn't take his medication. The prosecution argued that he had not taken medication during his relationship with Jean Hanlon.
