A man set to be quizzed over the death of a mum on Crete 15 years ago was a stalker she had rebuffed, claims her son.
Police in Greece are preparing to interrogate the suspect in relation to the death of Jean Hanlon, 53, from Dumfries, whose body was found in Heraklion harbour in March 2009.
The man was identified after Jean’s family hired private investigator Haris Fluskounis who re-examined evidence and handed a 29-page dossier to Greek prosecutors.
Jean’s sons, who have always believed their mum was murdered, claim they have evidence the suspect, who can’t be named, stalked Jean after she turned down his advances.
Jean’s eldest son, Michael Porter, 39, said: “The person identified was someone who was known to Mum.
“He was rejected by our mum and he went on to stalk her, we have evidence of that. 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.”
The family hope charges will follow the police interrogation, which was originally set for last week but has now been postponed to January, reportedly on request of the suspect.
Michael said: “We’ve been told we have to be realistic. This is the last chance. If they don’t charge the suspect they will file the case indefinitely.”
Jean had moved to the village of Kato Gouves in 2005 to start a new life after a divorce.
She went missing on March 9, 2009 on a night out. She’d spoken to friends on the phone after meeting a man at a bar and later sent a final text to one saying “help”. Four days later, her body was pulled from the harbour.
The Greek authorities at first said she’d drowned. But a second post-mortem revealed 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 later emerged Jean had arranged to meet two rival male friends in a bar hours before she vanished.
The family’s campaign forced a murder inquiry to be opened 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.
Police re-examined the case in 2019 when a documentary in Greece highlighted her sons’ search for justice. But no new evidence was found.
In March 2021, police launched their third probe. The case was passed to the Department of Organised Crime. The authorities reopened the case in June.
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